Cape Town International Airport, one of South Africa’s busiest travel hubs, faced a significant operational setback on Wednesday when a sudden power outage disrupted its services.
Update: Power disruptions at Cape Town International Airport, caused by a damaged cable, temporarily affected operations, including refuelling and flight schedules. Generators are powering the airport while repairs continue, and refuelling operations have resumed, ACSA confirmed.
Cape Town International Airport hit by power outage
This left passengers stranded and caused flight cancellations and delays. The incident is particularly concerning given the airport’s role as a critical gateway for domestic and international travel.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed the outage, issuing a statement apologising for the inconvenience.
“Our technicians are working diligently to resolve the issue as quickly as possible,” the statement read.
FlySafair, a prominent low-cost airline, was among the first to respond, announcing cancellations for several flights, including those bound for Johannesburg, Durban, and Lanseria.
In their statement, FlySafair expressed regret for the disruption and assured passengers of ongoing updates via email and SMS.
“We appreciate your patience and understanding,” the airline wrote.
This incident follows closely on the heels of another operational failure at OR Tambo International Airport in December 2024, where a fuel supply system malfunction led to widespread delays.
At the time, FlySafair criticised ACSA for inadequate infrastructure maintenance and issued refunds to passengers.
ACSA has faced mounting scrutiny over its operational reliability, with allegations of financial instability further complicating its public image.
The company’s assurances of solvency and efficiency have struggled to restore confidence among stakeholders.