Cape Town International Airport (CPT) reported 60 flight delays on Friday 30 October after taxi-related unrest in parts of Cape Town affected staffing levels and passenger processing. The airport said the disruption was most pronounced at domestic security screening points, while road access to and from the facility was also subject to possible delays.
The airport’s operational update, issued during a traditionally busy Friday for domestic travel, recorded 44 delayed domestic departures, 11 delayed international departures and five delayed arrivals as of 13:00. The average delay was approximately 60 minutes. No cancellations had been reported at that point.
| Operational impact | Reported position |
|---|---|
| Domestic departures delayed | 44 |
| International departures delayed | 11 |
| Arrivals delayed | Five |
| Average delay | Approximately 60 minutes |
| Cancellations | None reported as of 13:00 |
Passengers have been asked to arrive at least four hours before international departures and three hours before domestic flights. The airport also advised travellers to plan their journeys in advance, monitor traffic conditions and consider alternative routes where necessary because of possible disruption on roads serving the airport.
“We recognise the frustration and inconvenience this has caused, particularly on what is traditionally a busy Friday for domestic travel. The impact has been most significant on domestic departures, especially at security screening points.” — Malcolm Koopman, Acting Regional General Manager of Cape Town International Airport
Additional resources deployed
Cape Town International Airport said it was prioritising resources for terminal operations and security screening. It has also freed apron stands for arriving aircraft, brought in additional personnel from other airports and introduced further measures intended to improve the flow of passengers through security.
- Additional personnel have been brought in from other airports.
- Resources are being prioritised for terminal operations and security screening.
- Apron stands have been freed to support arriving aircraft.
- Passengers have been told to check flight status with their airline or through the Airports Company South Africa mobile application.
The measures will remain in place until further notice. The airport has apologised for the longer queues and delays and said its teams were working to improve processing times while maintaining the safety and well-being of passengers and staff.
The disruption comes as a joint law-enforcement operation involving the South African Police Service and City of Cape Town enforcement agencies addresses ongoing taxi-related shootings across the city. The unrest has affected public transport and commuter movements in parts of Cape Town, adding uncertainty to journeys to the airport even where flights continue to operate.
