This story has been updated. The bold dates and schedule near the end is new information received from Emirates.
Despite Airports Company 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 a great impact on their scheduled services.
On Saturday evening, October 1, Acsa issued a new press statement warning of further delays for the delivery of jet fuel to the airport. Acsa says airlines have been requested to conduct technical stops to uplift fuel at alternative airports. In the press release, it said there had been 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 the 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 5, certain flights from CPT will be re-routed/re-scheduled via JNB for uplift of fuel.
Flight EK771 departs CPT at 16h50 and arrives in JNB at 19h00; the flight then departs JNB at 20h00 and arrives in DXB at 06h20.
NB EK772 DXB-CPT is not impacted and will operate as per the published schedule.
“The situation in Cape Town continues to be monitored and 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.
