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A fire broke out at Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday, causing significant disruptions for international passengers and flights.
The blaze, which prompted evacuations, was swiftly brought under control without any injuries, according to the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA). Images shared on social media showed passengers hastily evacuating the terminal, some carrying their luggage as thick smoke filled the area, and sirens blared to alert travellers of the emergency.
In a statement, ACSA confirmed the incident and noted that the fire had been extinguished.
“Cape Town International Airport confirms that a fire occurred,” the statement read. “The blaze has been extinguished with no injuries.”
However, as a safety precaution, the airport temporarily suspended international departures, and incoming international flights were diverted. The fire had reportedly impacted the airport’s “network and IT services,” which further delayed flight operations. Passengers from flights that had already landed were processed as normal, despite the network issues.
This fire comes just days after the announcement of a major phased infrastructure upgrade at Cape Town International Airport, South Africa’s second-busiest airport.
The airport recorded over 11 million two-way passengers in 2025, with 3.33 million of those being international travellers. Despite the temporary setback, Cape Town remains a critical hub for international flights, and efforts are already underway to ensure that services resume smoothly.
