NATIONAL NEWS - Passengers using King Shaka International Airport have been advised to check with their airlines for updated flight information after the airport experienced a fuel system failure yesterday.
The Witness reports that airport authorities said on social media that technical teams are working to resolve the issue, but travellers should expect operational disruptions.
“Passengers are advised to check with airlines for updated flight information, use the Airports Company South Africa mobile app for real-time notifications and arrive early for flight departures,” the airport said in a statement.
Other recent delays
This latest disruption follows a series of flight delays, in the past few weeks, that affected passengers departing from both King Shaka and OR Tambo international airports.
FlySafair confirmed that those setbacks were caused by Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) constraints. Travellers reported waiting up to two hours on September 29 and at least 40 minutes on September 30 before take-off.
FlySafair said the delays were linked to air traffic flow management measures implemented by ATNS to manage congestion and ensure safety.
“These delays are not isolated to FlySafair and are affecting all airlines. Given our high frequency of flights, it’s understandable that we may be hearing more from our customers, but we are working closely with ATNS and our partners to minimise disruption and keep passengers informed.”
ATNS spokesperson Mphilo Dlamini attributed the disruptions to a combination of technical and weather-related challenges.
He said the lack of instrument flight procedures at OR Tambo and Richards Bay airports, along with adverse coastal weather conditions, contributed to the departure constraints.
Article: Caxton publication, The Citizen
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