Critical Disruptions at OR Tambo International Airport: Delays and System Failures Impact Travelers

Travelers using OR Tambo International Airport, South Africa's largest air hub, are currently experiencing lengthy delays at passport control. Airports Company South Africa (Acsa) has issued a warning due to “technical challenges” with the Border Management Authority’s (BMA) biometric system. The warnings come after recent disruptions, including significant refueling problems that impacted numerous flights.

On 16 December 2024, Acsa released a statement detailing an unresponsive state in the BMA’s Biometric Movement Control System (BMCS), leading to the adoption of manual procedures. This shift is likely to increase the time travelers spend in queues, significantly impacting their travel schedules. Despite assurances that BMA technicians are addressing the problem, the issue persisted with no substantial updates as of 17 December 2024.

The timing is notably unfortunate as Acsa had recently terminated a R115-million contract with French firm Idemia intended to enhance these systems through Automated Border Control and e-Gates. This contract cancellation followed preliminary investigations suggesting potential misconduct linked to the project’s procurement and implementation. Such developments might have indirectly contributed to the current disruptions, a reflection of deeper administrative and operational challenges within Acsa’s infrastructure projects.

Moreover, this disruption isn't isolated to biometric issues. Just a week prior, on 9 December 2024, OR Tambo faced a critical failure in its refueling system due to a shattered drive shaft, which stalled the refueling of airplanes for approximately four hours. This incident led to the delay of 483 flights and the cancellation of 31 others, affecting nearly 50,000 passengers. The recurrence of such issues, according to aviation expert Guy Leitch, signals a troubling pattern of infrastructural inadequacies at one of Africa’s busiest airports.

Acsa has committed additional personnel to manage the current crisis and expedite processing; however, travelers are strongly advised to allocate extra time for airport procedures. Meanwhile, other international airports in South Africa remain unaffected by this specific issue.

While Acsa and BMA have not yet provided a clear timeline for resolving the ongoing biometric system failure, the broader implications on OR Tambo’s operational reliability are apparent. Stakeholders and travelers alike are left awaiting urgent remedial actions as Acsa and BMA manage these compounded disruptions.