​In response to the article published by City Press titled "ACSA's lack of maintenance 'solely to blame for fuel chaos', says expert" by Erika Gibson, published on 15 December 2024.

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) would like to provide clarity regarding the events that transpired at O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) on 9 December 2024 and to correct several inaccuracies in the piece.

While we acknowledge the frustrations of travellers impacted by the refuelling disruption, it is important to address the factual details surrounding the incident and provide a balanced perspective.

On the morning of 9 December 2024, O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) experienced an unexpected refuelling disruption due to a mechanical failure of the shaft that actuates the fuel valves to the apron.

This technical issue occurred between 09:05 and 12:35, preventing the efficient transfer of jet fuel from the storage tanks to aircraft. The problem was swiftly identified and addressed by our team, and by 13:00, the valve was manually opened, allowing refuelling operations to resume, and the airport returned to normal functioning.

While the disruption did indeed affect 483 flights and led to 31 cancellations, it is important to emphasize the scale of ORTIA's operations. ACSA typically manages approximately 1,500 flights and 110,000 passengers daily.

Thus, while this disruption was unfortunate and caused significant inconvenience, it did not bring airport operations to a halt. Most flights continued without incident, and the backlog was cleared in a timely manner, with normal operations resuming by 13:00 on the same day.

Currently, O.R. Tambo's fuel infrastructure is undergoing significant upgrades as part of a R1.5 billion capital program. This includes the installation of a new 20-inch jet fuel line, which is scheduled to begin in March 2025, along with additional redundancy systems designed to enhance the reliability and resilience of the fuel system.

The goal is to ensure that similar disruptions are mitigated in the future, further strengthening the capacity of the airport to handle such challenges.

Additionally, ACSA has implemented several corrective measures, including the installation of a new valve on 11 December, which was successfully commissioned without complications.

This new valve is designed to enhance the fuel system's efficiency and reliability. The new valve is part of a series of ongoing improvements, including a planned bypass line to be completed by February 2025, which will provide added redundancy for the fuel system.

Furthermore, by March 2026, a new 20-inch jet fuel pipeline will be fully operational, providing three levels of redundancy for jet fuel supply at ORTIA.

These improvements will enhance the resilience of our fuel supply and provide multiple layers of redundancy to mitigate the risk of future disruptions.

We also wish to clarify that there were no issues with gaskets blowing during the valve replacement process, contrary to claims made by certain media platforms. The valve replacement was completed successfully and without incident, and the new valve is performing well under normal operating conditions.

Contrary to claims in the article, this event does not reflect a lack of contingency planning or systemic failure on ACSA's part.

We are fully committed to ensuring that the airport's fuel systems meet the highest standards of reliability. In fact, the repairs carried out on 9 December were performed in strict accordance with safety protocols, including depressurization, drainage, and purging of the fuel system to meet operational and safety standards.

Baggage Handling Concerns and Future Preparedness

The article also raised concerns regarding a potential recurrence of a baggage sorting crisis akin to that of 23 December 2023. We want to assure the public that the baggage handling systems at ORTIA are functioning as expected.

Following the disruptions last year, ACSA has implemented a comprehensive contingency plan. Our busiest day of the year's festive season, 13 December 2024, proceeded without any baggage handling issues due to careful planning, including additional training for check-in crew, protective measures for material units (MU), and swift response mechanisms to ensure timely interventions.

We are confident that the systems in place will prevent any recurrence of the previous baggage sorting issues, and ACSA continues to monitor and refine these systems to ensure smooth operations during the peak festive season.

Nevertheless, ACSA deeply regrets the inconvenience caused by the events of 9 December 2024 and acknowledges the anxiety experienced by affected travelers.

We continue to work diligently to modernize and expand the infrastructure at O.R. Tambo International Airport, which includes not only fuel system upgrades but also enhancements to baggage handling and overall operational reliability.

We wish to assure passengers that we are fully committed to improving our systems and communication to provide a seamless travel experience.

We sincerely apologize to those affected by the disruption and thank all travelers for their patience and understanding. ACSA remains committed to the highest standards of service and operational excellence and continues to make improvements to ensure the long-term success of ORTIA.

For further information or media inquiries, please contact:

ACSA Media Desk

Mediadesk@airports.co.za

Issued by Airports Company South Africa

//ENDS//