Just two days after a pilot strike at South African Airways (SAA) ended, a new crisis is threatening to disrupt travel at O.R. Tambo International Airport, South Africa’s busiest, Bloomberg reports.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) confirmed on Monday that the airport is experiencing significant “refueling challenges,” leaving airlines unable to refuel their aircraft.
The refueling problems raise the spectre of further flight delays and cancellations, casting a shadow over the peak December holiday travel season. The recent three-day strike by the South African Airways Pilots Association (SAAPA) already caused SAA to cancel approximately 60% of its flights. While SAA has since resumed its normal schedule, the current fuel shortage could trigger a new wave of disruptions.
