Flying from Cape Town? Arrive 3 hours early as taxi unrest hits airport

Cape Town International Airport has told passengers to arrive at least three hours before domestic flights and four hours before international flights, after taxi unrest in the city left it short of staff on Friday, 30 October. Some departures left up to an hour late (News24).

The airport said passengers were "experiencing longer-than-usual queues at security screening due to operational staffing constraints associated with the ongoing taxi-related unrest" (TimesLIVE). Some employees could not get to work (EWN).

How early should you get to Cape Town airport?

Source: Cape Town International Airport travel advisory, as reported by Cape Town Etc and The South African.

The airport has not said how long the extra time will be needed. Check its latest advisory before you leave.

What is happening in the queues?

Queues at security at both domestic and international departures snaked through the terminal on Friday morning, and airline staff walked the lines calling out flight numbers to pull people with imminent departures to the front (EWN).

FlySafair confirmed on X that staff shortages linked to the unrest had delayed several of its flights (IOL). Some travellers said they had missed flights because of the queues (TimesLIVE).

Passengers were only told the cause of the delays at about 07:00, when Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) issued its advisory (News24).

What should you do if you are flying today?

ACSA's advice (News24, Cape Town Etc):

• Check your flight status with your airline or on the ACSA mobile app before you leave home.
• Allow extra time for the road trip, not only for the airport. Monitor traffic and use alternative routes where needed.
• If you are worried about making your flight, contact your airline. FlySafair has asked customers to send their flight number by direct message on X so it can check the status (TimesLIVE).

Why is there taxi unrest in Cape Town?

The disruption follows deadly clashes between two taxi associations, CATA (Cape Amalgamated Taxi Association) and CODETA (Cape Organisation for the Democratic Taxi Association), over a disputed route linking Delft, Langa and Epping (EWN). Three people were killed and six wounded in shootings in Delft, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni and Gugulethu on Tuesday and Wednesday (News24). Ranks including the Palms taxi rank in Delft have been closed (EWN).

Taxis are running again in parts of the city, but the knock-on effect is now reaching the airport (EWN). Our explainer on the CATA and CODETA route dispute has the background.