Flights at Cape Town International Airport have resumed after a significant power outage on Sunday evening caused widespread disruptions. The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed that runway lights and navigational aids were restored by 1 a.m. on Monday, allowing safe aircraft operations to resume.
The power outage, which began around 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, affected critical airport functions, including runway lighting, airside fire rescue, and air traffic navigation services. This led to the grounding of flights and the diversion of inbound aircraft to other airports within the ACSA network.
“Technicians and specialists worked through the night to restore power,” ACSA said in a statement. “We apologize to travelers for the inconvenience and are continuing with permanent repairs to ensure the stability of the network.”
FlySafair, one of the airlines affected, reported that several of their flights had to be diverted, causing significant delays. “Our operations center was alerted to the power outage, and flights en route to Cape Town were diverted to other airports,” said Kirby Gordon, Chief Marketing Officer at FlySafair. “Departures were temporarily halted, and we expect some delays as operations normalize.”
Passengers described their experiences of being stranded for hours, with some sharing their frustration on social media. Despite the delays, the situation has been gradually improving, with 11 aircraft successfully landing at Cape Town International Airport early Monday morning.
This incident follows a previous disruption in April when a FlySafair flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town had to return to Johannesburg after a wheel was damaged during takeoff. However, the airline confirmed that their schedule on Monday was largely unaffected, with only minor delays reported.
ACSA emphasized its commitment to maintaining operational efficiency and minimizing future disruptions. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of all passengers affected by this outage,” ACSA stated. “Our teams are dedicated to ensuring the safety and comfort of all travelers.”
For updates on flight schedules and further information, passengers are advised to check with their respective airlines and visit the ACSA website.
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