Hundreds of passengers were left stranded across South Africa after significant disruptions hit three of the country’s major airports, with 77 flights reportedly delayed and at least one cancellation affecting services at OR Tambo International in Johannesburg, Cape Town International, and King Shaka International near Durban. The knock-on impact rippled across the domestic network, affecting airlines including South African Airways, Kulula’s successor carriers, Airlink, FlySafair and others, and highlighting ongoing fragilities in the country’s aviation infrastructure and air traffic management systems.
Nationwide Disruptions Hit South Africa’s Busiest Air Corridors
The latest wave of delays has struck at the heart of South Africa’s aviation system, impacting the critical Johannesburg–Cape Town–Durban triangle and secondary routes beyond. OR Tambo International, the country’s primary hub and the busiest airport on the continent, experienced cascading delays to both departures and arrivals as flights were held, re-sequenced or turned around late. These disruptions quickly spilled into Cape Town International and King Shaka International, with aircraft, crew and passenger rotations all thrown off schedule.
According to operational updates from airport and air traffic authorities, a combination of technical constraints and infrastructure-related issues contributed to the delays, forcing airlines to hold aircraft on the ground, lengthen turnaround times and, in some cases, consolidate or cancel services. As a result, travelers heading to and from Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban, as well as to smaller centers such as Gqeberha, East London, Bloemfontein and regional destinations, faced hours-long waits at terminals already straining under heavy summer demand.
While the official tally cites 77 delays and one outright cancellation, the real impact was significantly broader. Disruptions to earlier flights triggered rolling knock-on effects throughout the day and into the night, with delayed aircraft arriving late for onward legs, missed connections building up in hub airports, and airlines struggling to reposition both planes and crew where they were most needed.
By the time operations began to stabilize, departure boards at OR Tambo, Cape Town International and King Shaka had shown recurring patterns of “delayed” and “rescheduled,” and many passengers had already missed important events, business meetings and family gatherings. For some, the delays translated into unplanned overnights in transit cities or expensive last-minute changes to travel plans.
Airlines Under Pressure as Passengers Queue and Tempers Flare
On the airline side, carriers bore the brunt of passenger frustration. South African Airways, Airlink, FlySafair and other operators reported unusually high call volumes and long queues at ticketing and customer service counters as travelers sought rebookings, meal vouchers and answers. Staff on the ground found themselves balancing the need to manage expectations with the reality that many of the underlying problems lay beyond the airlines’ direct control.
Passengers at Cape Town International described chaotic scenes as departure gates were reassigned, flight information screens updated only sporadically, and public announcements failed to keep pace with operational changes. In some cases, travelers only learned of cancellations or extensive delays once already at the boarding gate, prompting a scramble for alternative options and, for those who could afford it, last-minute bookings on competing airlines or even rail and road transport.
At OR Tambo, previously reported bottlenecks at security checkpoints and baggage handling reappeared in a new context, as surging volumes of delayed passengers converged on departure areas at once. Some airlines urged travelers to check in online, travel with hand luggage only where possible, and arrive even earlier than the usual two hours for domestic flights and three hours for international departures, anticipating longer queues at security and check-in.
Airline executives have repeatedly called attention to the cost of such disruptions. Extended ground time increases fuel and maintenance bills, while crews risk exceeding legally mandated duty hours, forcing last-minute aircraft substitutions or cancellations. These operational headaches translate into tangible financial losses and reputational damage, especially in a competitive environment where carriers vie for loyalty from both business and leisure travelers.
Infrastructure Strains and Power Problems at Cape Town International
Cape Town International has been a recurring flash point in South Africa’s aviation story over the past two years, with several high-profile power-related incidents underlining vulnerabilities in critical airport infrastructure. Previous outages have affected runway lights, refuelling systems and terminal operations, triggering significant delays, diversions and, at times, temporary suspensions of arrivals and departures.
In one widely reported episode, a damaged electrical cable at Cape Town’s fuel depot forced operations onto generator power and restricted aircraft refuelling, compelling airlines to delay or divert flights and leaving passengers waiting in terminals that grew increasingly crowded and uncomfortable. Subsequent statements from airport authorities confirmed that while emergency repairs restored core functions, full normalization of systems took longer, and the ripple effects reached other airports, including OR Tambo, as aircraft and crews found themselves out of position.
The latest disruption fits into this broader pattern of infrastructure strain. Industry experts have warned that while backup systems at major South African airports formally meet international standards, they are often calibrated only to sustain essential loads, not the full spectrum of services needed to keep modern terminals operating at full capacity. When primary systems fail or experience faults, baggage belts, certain parts of passenger processing and refuelling infrastructure can be compromised, forcing airports into reduced or manual operations.
Calls for renewed investment in resilient power and fuel systems at Cape Town International and other key airports have grown louder. Aviation analysts argue that as passenger numbers recover and grow, any lag in upgrading and fortifying essential infrastructure will continue to translate into flight delays, stranded travelers and damage to South Africa’s reputation as a reliable gateway for tourism and business.
System Failures and Air Traffic Management Challenges at OR Tambo
Beyond the physical infrastructure of airports, South Africa’s air traffic management systems have come under increasing scrutiny. A series of recent incidents linked to Air Traffic and Navigation Services, the state-owned entity responsible for providing air traffic control and managing flight plans, have highlighted the fragility of the digital backbone that supports the country’s skies.
In a notable case last year, a critical failure in the Flight Plan Management system disrupted operations at OR Tambo and several other airports nationwide, causing widespread delays as controllers reverted to manual workarounds and airlines were forced to adjust schedules with limited notice. Although the system was eventually restored, clearing the backlog took many hours, and some passengers experienced significant knock-on delays or missed connections.
Separately, industry reports have pointed to chronic issues in maintaining and updating instrument flight procedures at multiple South African airports, leading to hundreds of suspensions and forcing operations into more constrained visual conditions during poor weather. While this is primarily a safety and regulatory matter, the operational consequence is clear: fewer usable approaches and departures in marginal conditions mean slower traffic flows and greater vulnerability to delays whenever the weather deteriorates.
The latest episode of 77 delays and a cancellation has again raised questions about the resilience, redundancy and modernization of South Africa’s air traffic systems. Airlines and aviation associations have warned that ongoing deficiencies do not only inconvenience passengers, but also increase costs and potentially erode safety margins if not urgently addressed. For travelers, the distinction between a radar, software or procedural issue and a problem with baggage or fuel is academic; what matters is whether their flight departs and arrives on time.
King Shaka and Smaller Airports Feel the Knock-On Effect
King Shaka International Airport, the primary gateway to Durban and a regional hub on South Africa’s east coast, has not been immune to the turbulence affecting the wider network. Although its terminal and runway infrastructure are comparatively modern, the airport is heavily dependent on the broader national system, particularly for domestic connections linking Durban with Johannesburg and Cape Town and onward regional routes.
During periods of disruption centered on OR Tambo or Cape Town International, King Shaka often experiences secondary effects as delayed aircraft arrive late from other cities, or as airlines adjust their rotations and crew allocations. Even when operations at Durban itself are technically smooth, flights may still depart behind schedule, leaving passengers to contend with extended waits and compressed turnaround times at both ends of their journey.
Beyond the big three, smaller airports such as Gqeberha, East London, Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Polokwane and others also feel the strain when major hubs falter. Many depend on a limited number of daily services from Johannesburg or Cape Town. When those flights are delayed, downgraded to smaller aircraft, or cancelled outright, entire communities can find themselves cut off from same-day business trips, medical appointments or critical family travel.
This interconnectedness means that a cluster of technical or infrastructure faults at a single major hub can quickly cascade across the entire domestic network. The current episode underscores that reality: although only 77 flights were formally logged as delayed, the schedule disruptions extended across multiple provinces and affected travelers far from the original trouble spots.
Human Stories Behind the Numbers
Statistics on delays and cancellations only tell part of the story. For the hundreds of passengers caught up in the latest wave of disruptions, the experience has been personal, stressful and often costly. Travelers in Cape Town have spoken of standing in snaking queues for hours, watching departure boards flicker between estimated times while staff struggled to provide clear updates.
Some passengers described arriving at the airport to find their flight initially listed as on time, only to see it pushed back in increments before finally being delayed indefinitely or cancelled. Parents traveling with young children recounted challenges in finding seating, keeping kids calm in crowded boarding areas and sourcing food and water once restaurants and shops were overwhelmed by demand.
Business travelers, meanwhile, faced missed meetings, cancelled site visits and, in some cases, the need to rebook entire itineraries at short notice. Those without comprehensive travel insurance discovered that out-of-pocket expenses for additional accommodation, local transport, reissued tickets and changes to rental car bookings could escalate quickly. For international visitors connecting through South Africa’s hubs to neighboring countries, the delays brought heightened anxiety over visa conditions, onward connections and lost pre-paid tours and safaris.
Even when airlines provided hotel vouchers or re-routed passengers onto later flights, the psychological toll of uncertainty was significant. Many travelers reported receiving fragmented or delayed communication about their options, highlighting an enduring gap in crisis communication and passenger care across much of the aviation sector.
Calls for Accountability, Investment and Better Communication
As the dust settles from the latest disruption, pressure is mounting on Airports Company South Africa, air traffic authorities and airlines to take concrete steps to reduce the likelihood and impact of future breakdowns. Industry commentators argue that recent events are not isolated glitches but symptoms of systemic weaknesses ranging from aging infrastructure and underinvestment to bureaucratic delays in procurement and governance challenges at key state entities.
There are growing calls for accelerated investment in backup power systems, resilient fuel infrastructure, modern baggage screening and more robust digital platforms for managing flight plans and air traffic flows. Analysts emphasize that such investments are not merely technical upgrades, but essential enablers of economic growth, tourism stability and national competitiveness.
Equally, passenger advocates stress the need for clearer, more proactive communication when things go wrong. Real-time updates via airline apps, SMS alerts, airport public address systems and information displays can significantly soften the blow of delays by giving travelers time to adjust their plans. Transparent explanations about the nature of disruptions, likely timelines for resolution and available remedies such as refunds, rebookings and accommodation support can help restore trust.
For now, travelers planning journeys through Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and other South African airports are being urged to build in additional buffer time, stay closely in touch with their airlines, and consider comprehensive travel insurance that covers delays and missed connections. While the aviation sector works to stabilize operations and address deeper structural issues, passengers remain the ones most directly exposed to the cost of any misstep in the country’s complex air transport system.