As 2023 approaches, South African Airways (SAA) said that no delays attributable to jet fuel supply are anticipated.
This comes after thousands of travellers were stranded at OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday, following a technical issue with the main supply valve that provided fuel to the area where the aircraft was parked.
As a result, both local and international flights were delayed.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) issued a statement confirming that there was a challenge with refuelling of aircraft on Wednesday.
“The technical issue was due to the main supply valve supplying fuel to the aprons not opening, thus causing rational relays to domestic and international departures. As a contingency, a tanker was used to refuel aircraft,” said the ORTIA airport management.
The management said from the commencement of operations until 08:30am, when the issue was resolved, a total of 41 flights were affected, 32 being domestic, eight international and one regional flight.
SAA said although this mainly affected OR Tambo International Airport, it also caused delays in Cape Town and Durban.
“Operation are back to normal except for knock-on effects of late departures leading to delayed returned flights. ORTIA would like to apologise to all passengers and their loved ones for the inconvenience caused,” it said.
Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula was briefed by ACSA about the problem, and he urged the management to be more proactive in their communications when such incidents occur which inconvenience travellers.
Transport Ministry spokesperson, Lwazi Khoza said: “This matter has since been resolved by technicians who are on-site monitoring the situation, with flights expected to return to normal scheduling. Mbalula extended sincere apologies to travellers who were inconvenienced by this situation on their commute.”
The flight delays left a number of travellers very angry, with some of them taking to social media to express their concerns.
Source: Business Day, IOL, SA News, Eyewitness News, image from Twitter: @TheTruthPanther