Cape Town – Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has announced that operations are returning to normal at Cape Town International Airport following a fire in the International Inner Lane (Northern Service Yard).
The fire, which occurred on Tuesday, 24 February 2026, at about 11h15, was swiftly extinguished with no injuries reported, but international departures and arrivals were disrupted.
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In line with established safety protocols, power across the terminal was temporarily isolated to allow for thorough safety assessments.
International departures resumed in the evening on Tuesday, 24 February 2026.
“While power and most systems have been restored, some manual processing remains in place,” ACSA said on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.
“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.”
ACSA said the current operational status of the airport was as follows:
• 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
Passengers are advised to contact their airline’s ground handling agent before arriving:
• Menzies Aviation: 021 935 3913
• Colossal Aviation Services: 021 935 3907
ACSA said to avoid unnecessary congestion at the terminal, all passengers are strongly encouraged to:
1. Check the ACSA App for real-time updates.
2. Contact your airline directly to confirm flight status before traveling to the airport.
