Cape Town taxi unrest causes airport delays as passengers face long queues

Passengers travelling through Cape Town International Airport on Friday, 30 October, faced lengthy queues and flight delays as ongoing taxi-related unrest disrupted airport operations and left staff shortages affecting services, ***Cape {town} Etc ***reports.

The disruption reportedly has added another headache for commuters and travellers caught up in the transport unrest, which has affected several parts of Cape Town this week. Hundreds of passengers were reportedly gathered in the airport’s departures area, with some facing extended check-in waits and concerns about missing their flights.

Some departures were delayed by as much as an hour. The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has urged travellers to allow extra time for their journeys and check directly with airlines for updates before heading to the airport.

TRAVEL ADVISORY | CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Passengers travelling to and from Cape Town International Airport are advised to anticipate possible traffic disruptions and delays due to ongoing taxi-related unrest in parts of Cape Town. Passengers are encouraged to plan their journeys in advance, allow additional travel time, monitor traffic updates and consider alternative routes where necessary. Passengers are also advised to check their flight status directly with their airline or via the ACSA Mobile App. The safety of all passengers remains our priority. #TravelAdvisory #CapeTownInternationalAirport #ACSA

— Cape Town Airport (@capetownint) October 30, 2026

The taxi-related disruptions have made it difficult for some airport employees to get to work, resulting in staffing constraints that have affected operations. Airline FlySafair confirmed on social media platform X that the unrest was affecting its airport operations.

The airline said staff shortages had contributed to delays across several flights, adding that its teams were working to limit the disruption and get passengers to their destinations safely.

‘We apologise for the inconvenience caused by the delay.’

– FlySafair.

The situation has also affected passenger processing, with Cape Town International Airport reporting longer-than-usual queues at security screening.

In an updated travel advisory issued on Friday, the airport warned that operational staffing constraints were contributing to longer waiting times at security screening.

Passengers were given specific arrival recommendations to help avoid missing their flights:

• International departures: Arrive at least four hours before departure.
• Domestic departures: Arrive at least three hours before departure.

The airport said its teams were working to manage passenger flow and minimise disruption.

Passengers were also encouraged to monitor traffic conditions, consider alternative routes where necessary and check their flight status through their airline or the ACSA mobile app. In its advisory, the airport stressed that passenger safety remained its priority and apologised for the inconvenience.

Taxi unrest leaves deadly trail across Cape Town

The airport disruption comes amid escalating taxi-related violence in parts of the city. The unrest, which reportedly intensified on Tuesday and Wednesday, has been accompanied by deadly shootings in areas including Delft, Khayelitsha, Mfuleni and Gugulethu.

Three people were killed and six others wounded in the violence, while some transport interchanges were temporarily closed. The impact has since extended beyond the affected communities, with commuters, workers and businesses facing disruptions to their daily routines.

For air travellers, the situation highlights how unrest on the city’s roads can quickly affect operations at one of the Western Cape’s busiest transport hubs. With airport staffing and traffic conditions still potentially affected, passengers are being urged not to leave their journeys to the last minute.

Checking flight information before departing for the airport and allowing additional time for both the road journey and airport procedures could help avoid unnecessary stress.

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**Picture: **Büşra Taşkın / Pexels

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