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If you have a flight booked to or from King Shaka International Airport and the Middle East or the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - or were planning to book one - your travel plans may be temporarily affected.
Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) has issued a statement amid ongoing global flight disruptions linked to the evolving situation in the Middle East. This has resulted in partial and full airspace closures across several countries in the region, including the UAE.
Countries affected include Iran, Israel, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, Syria and the United Arab Emirates. These closures have brought much of the region’s civilian air traffic to a halt. This has also impacted Dubai International Airport - the world’s busiest airport for international travel, and Doha which serves as one of the world’s key transit hubs.
ACSA, which owns and operates South Africa’s nine principal airports — including OR Tambo International, Cape Town International and King Shaka International — confirmed that the closures are affecting flights operated by Emirates and Qatar Airways.
On Saturday, disruptions included:
- OR Tambo International (JNB): eight cancellations (seven outbound, one inbound)
- Cape Town International (CPT): four cancellations (outbound)
- King Shaka International (DUR): two cancellations (outbound)
What you should do
ACSA advises travellers scheduled to depart for the Middle East or the UAE not to proceed to the airport until they have confirmed their flight status directly with their airline.
For rebooking and assistance, contact:
- Emirates: www.emirates.com | +971 600 555 555
- Qatar Airways: www.qatarairways.com | +974 4144 5555 | +44 3309 127 416
South African citizens currently in affected areas who require assistance should contact the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) or the nearest South African mission at +27 12 351 1000 or CICC@dirco.gov.za.
ACSA has confirmed it will continue monitoring developments in coordination with aviation stakeholders.
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