Date: 25 February 2026
Cape Town International Airport confirms that operations are returning to normal following a fire in the International Inner Lane (Northern Service Yard) on Tuesday, 24 February. The fire was swiftly extinguished with no injuries reported.
In line with established safety protocols, power across the terminal was temporarily isolated to allow for thorough safety assessments. While power and most systems have been restored, some manual processing remains in place.
Current Operational Status
- Airlines: Most check-in systems are fully operational. Lift Airlines continues to process passengers manually.
- International Arrivals: The Border Management Authority (BMA) and Customs are using manual systems. Expect extended wait times.
- International Departures: International departures resumed yesterday evening, and all aircraft that landed during the incident were processed. A limited number of international flights were diverted during the disruption.
- Baggage: Processing is currently manual; delays in delivery are expected.
- Domestic Travel: Operations have returned to normal.
Key Changes to Airport Layout
The International Arrivals corridor remains closed.
- Meeters & Greeters: Please follow signage to the temporary area at the International Inner Lane (Ground Floor).
- Baggage Retrieval: Passengers who were unable to collect their luggage yesterday may retrieve their bags at the Northern side of the temporary Meeters & Greeters entrance.
Contact Information for Baggage Assistance
Passenger are advised to contact their airline’s ground handling agent before arriving:
- Menzies Aviation: 021 935 3913
- Colossal Aviation Services: 021 935 3907
To avoid unnecessary congestion at the terminal, all passengers are strongly encouraged to:
- Check the ACSA App for real-time updates.
- Contact your airline directly to confirm flight status before traveling to the airport.
We would like to thank our passengers, airline partners, and stakeholders for their patience. We extend our sincere thanks to the emergency response teams for their swift and professional action.
Updates will be issued as more information becomes available from the ongoing investigation into the cause of the fire.
For further information or media inquiries, please contact:
Issued by Airports Company South Africa
