Cape Town airport reports 60 delays, no cancellations amid taxi-related unrest

Hundreds of travellers are delayed at the Cape Town International Airport after staff shortages were reported amid taxi violence.

Cape Town International Airport has apologised to passengers for the longer-than-usual queues and delays experienced on Friday. 

In a statement released, it said the ongoing taxi-related unrest has affected staffing levels across airport operations, resulting in extended passenger processing times and flight delays. 

The Acting Regional General Manager at the airport, Malcolm Koopman, said they realise the frustration and inconvenience this has caused, particularly on what is traditionally a busy Friday for domestic travel. 

“Our teams are doing everything possible to improve processing times while ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone at the airport,” Koopman said. 

As of 1pm, Cape Town International reported 60 flight delays, comprising 44 domestic departures, 11 international departures and five arrivals. The average delay was approximately 60 minutes and no cancellations have been reported. 

To stabilise operations, Koopman said the airport has implemented the following measures: 

The airport has also advised passengers to arrive four hours earlier for international departures and three hours earlier for domestic departures. 

“Passengers are encouraged to plan their journeys, monitor traffic updates, and check their flight status with their airline or via the ACSA Mobile App. Passengers who have missed their flights should contact their airline directly for assistance,” Koopman said. 

Cape Town International Airport said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide further updates should there be any significant changes.