Johannesburg — Thousands of passengers travelling through Africa’s busiest airport, OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, were left stranded without their baggage.
This was due to a few technical issues the baggage sorting system faced, which left many flights delayed. Passengers were left without their luggage and essential items as the airport scurried to fix the issue.
“Please note we are still experiencing intermittent technical challenges with the baggage sortation system, which is resulting in the delay of departure flights. We encourage passengers to come to the airport early to allow sufficient time for passenger processing. We request your patience while our technicians work tirelessly to resolve the issue,” OR Tambo said on X.
UPDATE: Please note that we are still experiencing intermittent technical challenges with the baggage sortation system which is resulting in the delay of departure flights. pic.twitter.com/8Z6d2T3EVN
— ORTambo (@ortambo_int) December 23, 2023
According to Kirby Gordon, chief marketing officer of FlySafair, said that around 3 000 bags needed to be returned to its customers. He estimated double the amount for passengers across other flights, The Citizen reported.
“This is not just an inconvenience for travellers; it has significant financial repercussions for both passengers and airlines alike. The sheer scale of affected luggage and passengers demands a swift and comprehensive resolution,” said Gordon.
The fallout of the operational disaster has affected more than just air travel. Ground handling companies have had to deploy extra staff and allocate overtime.
Airlines are now facing hefty courier bills for shipping luggage to reunite them with passengers. The incident prompted MSC Cruises to delay the departure of a ship from Durban harbour, incurring substantial costs.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
