DURBAN – Travel chaos erupted at King Shaka International Airport on Tuesday morning as a major fuel system failure brought operations to a standstill, stranding thousands of passengers and forcing widespread flight delays and cancellations.
The airport issued an urgent advisory confirming the disruption, stating it is “experiencing fuel system failures.” While the exact cause and scale of the failure were not immediately disclosed, the impact was felt across the board, affecting both domestic and international flights.
“Passengers are urged to check with their respective airlines for updated flight information,” the airport’s advisory read.
The notice, headlined “BREAKING NEWS,” was disseminated across airport screens and social media channels, warning of significant disruptions.
The failure of the airport’s central fuel hydrant system means that airlines are unable to refuel their aircraft. This has a cascading effect, causing:
- Grounded Departures: Outbound flights are unable to leave.
- Diverted Arrivals: Incoming flights may be forced to divert to other airports, such as OR Tambo in Johannesburg, to refuel before continuing.
- Knock-on Delays: The disruption is expected to cause a backlog that will last throughout the day, even after the issue is resolved.
Airlines including South African Airways (SAA), Lift, FlySafair, and British Airways (operated by Comair) have begun notifying passengers of delays and cancellations via their official channels. Long queues have formed at airline service desks as frustrated travellers seek alternative arrangements.
Airport management, along with the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and fuel suppliers, are understood to be working to resolve the critical issue. However, no timeline for a return to normal operations has been provided.
Passengers booked on flights for October 22 are strongly advised not to proceed to the airport without first confirming their flight status directly with their airline.
This is a developing story. More information will be provided as it becomes available.
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