Despite Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) issuing two statements in which it claims that the fuel shortage at Cape Town International Airport (CTIA) is not having any impact on scheduled flights, Travel News has heard of at least two airlines reporting that the fuel situation has in fact, had great impact on their scheduled services.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) on Saturday evening, October 1, issued a new press statement warning of further delays for the delivery of jet fuel to Cape Town International Airport. ACSA says airlines have been requested to conduct technical stops to uplift fuel at alternative airports. In the press release, ACSA said there was no impact on scheduled flights
However, by this morning (Sunday October 2) both United Airlines and Emirates have sent out communications regarding just how their schedules have been affected.
United on Saturday communicated with passengers of at least two flights, warning them that the flights from Newark to the Mother City would be cancelled due to the CTIA fuel situation., according to News 24.
Emirates has sent out a trade release warning agents that due to the non-availability of fuel at Cape Town from October 2 to October 4, certain flights from CPT will be re-routed / re-scheduled via JNB for uplift of fuel. These are:
EK771 Departing CPT 14h50-17h10 (arrival JNB)
EK771 Departing JNB 18h10-02h201 (arrival DXB)
NB - (EK772 DXB-CPT is not impacted and will operate as per the published schedule).
“The situation in Cape Town continues to be monitored & an update will be communicated as we get more information from the relevant authorities. All affected bookings have been rebooked and sent to the contact address in the booking but we suggest that you check your GDS to ensure all affected are informed,” says the EK trade release.
