• Miscellaneous

Cape Town Airport Back on Track After Fire Disrupted Flights and Systems Cape Town Airport Back on Track After Fire Disrupted Flights and Systems

Travel professionals selling South Africa can breathe a little easier. Cape Town International Airport (CPT) has confirmed that operations have returned to normal following a fire that caused significant disruption earlier this week. Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has announced that all check-in counters are now fully operational, bringing an end to days of uncertainty for airlines, passengers, and the agents who serve them.

The blaze broke out on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, in what ACSA described as the Northern Service Yard area of the airport. The fire triggered a chain of operational problems. Power across the terminal had to be temporarily isolated to allow safety teams to carry out assessments, which knocked out display boards, check-in systems, and other essential infrastructure. Emergency crews responded quickly and contained the fire, with no injuries reported — a positive outcome given the scale of the disruption that followed.

The impact on flights was immediate and wide-reaching. International departures were temporarily suspended as a precaution, and several incoming international flights had to be diverted to other airports [[1]](https://www.news24.com/southafrica/news/fire-breaks-out-at-cape-town-international-airport-evacuations-under-way-20260224-0635). Sections of the international terminal affected by smoke were evacuated, while both domestic arrivals and departures experienced delays [[1]](https://www.news24.com/southafrica/news/fire-breaks-out-at-cape-town-international-airport-evacuations-under-way-20260224-0635). Passengers were left stranded outside terminal buildings as staff worked to restore services.

Recovery came in stages. Power was restored first, followed by the gradual reactivation of airline check-in systems. During the transition period, some airlines had to resort to manual passenger processing to keep flights moving. One carrier, Lift Airlines, continued processing passengers manually for longer than others while its systems were being brought back online. By the time ACSA issued its latest update, all systems — including domestic and international check-in, Border Management Authority, and Customs services — had been fully restored>

For travel agents with clients currently heading to or through Cape Town, a few practical points are worth noting. Although normal operations have resumed, ACSA continues to advise passengers to allow extra time for check-in and security procedures as a precaution. Travellers should check flight status updates directly with their airline or through the ACSA Mobile App before heading to the airport. Those collecting passengers from international arrivals are encouraged to follow on-site signage and official airport communications to avoid confusion.

This incident is a timely reminder of how quickly airport operations can be disrupted and how important it is for agents to have contingency plans in place. Cape Town International is the gateway for the Western Cape's booming tourism industry, which, as recent data has shown, accounts for the majority of international visitor spending in South Africa. Any prolonged closure would have had serious consequences not just for airlines, but for hotels, tour operators, car rental companies, and the thousands of small businesses that depend on a steady flow of visitors.

The speed of the recovery deserves recognition. Moving from a full power shutdown and suspended international flights to restored operations within a matter of hours demonstrates that ACSA's emergency protocols worked effectively under pressure. It also underlines the importance of continued investment in airport infrastructure and fire safety systems — something that airports across the continent should take note of as passenger numbers continue to grow.

For now, Cape Town International is open for business, and agents can confidently continue booking clients into one of Africa's most popular destinations. The peak season may be over, but the months ahead still promise strong visitor demand, and a fully functioning airport is the foundation on which that demand is met.