Cape Town International Airport has resumed normal operations after taxi-related unrest disrupted staffing levels and caused longer-than-usual queues at security screening on Friday, 30 October.
The airport initially advised passengers to allow additional time for processing after operational staffing constraints affected security screening.
In a subsequent update, the airport confirmed that staffing levels had stabilised and normal operations had resumed.
According to the airport's initial advisory, international passengers were advised to arrive four hours before departure, while domestic passengers were asked to arrive three hours before their flights. Travellers were also encouraged to monitor traffic updates and check flight information with their airlines or through the Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) app.
Airport staffing affected by taxi unrest
The disruption stemmed from ongoing taxi-related unrest in Cape Town, which limited employees' ability to reach the airport.
According to eNCA, Malcolm Koopman, acting regional manager at Cape Town International Airport, said at least 50% of airport staff had been unable to get to work on Friday.
The unrest comes amid escalating violence within the taxi industry. The report said at least a dozen people had been killed in the violence during October, while Western Cape Police Commissioner General Sizakhele Dyantyi had threatened to shut down taxi ranks if clashes between rival factions continued.
Taxi services disrupted across Cape Town
The airport disruption formed part of wider transport interruptions across the city, with taxi services suspended or operating at reduced capacity at several transport hubs.
According to The Citizen, Nyanga and Wynberg had no operating taxi services, while Mfuleni, Langa and the Cape Town Station Deck experienced limited operations.
The Western Cape Mobility Department said it had been monitoring the situation and deployed its Mobility Information Taxi to assist commuters at affected ranks, manage queues and provide information about alternative transport options. Commuters were also encouraged to make use of available bus and rail services.
The department said it was considering legal options to address the ongoing conflict, while calling on taxi industry leaders to work towards restoring normal services.
Normal airport operations resume
In its latest travel advisory on Friday, 30 October, Cape Town International Airport confirmed that staffing levels had stabilised and normal operations had resumed.
Passengers were nevertheless encouraged to continue checking their flight status directly with their airlines or through the Acsa app, and to allow sufficient time to travel to the airport.
The airport thanked passengers for their patience and understanding during the disruption.
