Cape Town – Operations were disrupted at Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday after a fire broke out on the landside of the facility, forcing temporary changes to flight movements.
In a statement on social media, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed that the fire was extinguished and that all passengers, staff and visitors were safe. Authorities said passenger safety remained the top priority during the incident.
The blaze affected parts of the airport’s network and information technology infrastructure, resulting in operational disruptions. As a precaution, international departures were temporarily suspended and incoming international flights were diverted to other airports.
“@capetownint Airport confirms that a fire occurred on the landside of the airport. The fire has been successfully extinguished, and all passengers, staff, and visitors are safe. Passenger safety remains our highest priority. The incident affected certain network and IT services,” the company said in statement.
Operational Notice 📢✈️@capetownint Airport confirms that a fire occurred on the landside of the airport. The fire has been successfully extinguished, and all passengers, staff, and visitors are safe. Passenger safety remains our highest priority.
The incident affected certain… pic.twitter.com/zjLBCluiNM
— Airports Company SA (@Airports_ZA) February 24, 2026
“As a precautionary measure, international departures have been temporarily suspended, and incoming international flights are being diverted. International flights that have already landed are being processed.
“Passengers travelling domestically are advised to check directly with their airlines and the ACSA Mobile App for the latest flight updates. Further information will be shared as it becomes available. We thank our passengers and stakeholders for their patience and cooperation.”
The fire and evacuation left many passengers uncertain about their flight schedules, with reports that some travellers were not directly informed during the incident.
Airlines, including FlySafair, communicated delays and advised passengers to travel with carry-on luggage only due to the temporary unavailability of the baggage system.
Authorities continue monitoring the situation as airport services gradually recover.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
