Staffing shortages and severe weather cause flight delays at O.R. Tambo Airport
The Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) confirms that staffing shortages and severe weather contributed to the chaos at O.R. Tambo International Airport.
Image: Freepik
Amidst a stormy Sunday, O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) found itself at the centre of a chaotic scene as flight delays and diversions plagued the aviation hub.
The Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) has provided updates, revealing that both staffing shortages and adverse weather contributed to the disruptions, leaving passengers and social media users questioning the reliability of the information provided.
Confusion arose after the ATNS’s initial statement indicated that flight delays were primarily due to temporary human resource constraints at the Air Traffic Control station.
The second statement said it was due to severe weather conditions, including thunderstorms. Then the third statement referred to human resource constraints.
In the third statement issued on Monday afternoon, ATNS provided an update on Sunday’s flight delays at ORTIA.
ATNS Corporate Affairs and Communications Head Mphilo K. Dlamini said air traffic operations at the airport were normal and services continued as planned.
“The entity can also confirm that the human resource constraints experienced yesterday (Sunday) at the air traffic control centre have been resolved, and the operations have been stabilised with no staffing challenges anticipated. ATNS is operating at the required staffing capacity, and this will be maintained for the foreseeable future,” Dlamini said.
“ATNS has successfully cleared the backlog emanating from Sunday’s operational challenges.”
A few social media users raised concerns over which statement they should believe.
One person quoted one statement, which said the delays were primarily due to temporary human resource constraints at the Air Traffic Control station.
“So yesterday’s (Sunday) press release from the same person was factually incorrect? Who do we now believe?” the person said.
Another person said: “180 degree change from yesterday (Sunday). So which statement do we believe? Oh, wait you, cocked it up yesterday (Sunday,) telling the truth, now you going to wriggle out of it.”
Clarifying, Dlamini said ORTIA delays were caused by human resource constraints. They issued a statement on that. Later on Sunday, Johannesburg was hit by a storm that caused flight diversions.
“We needed to clarify that two unfortunate incidents hit the aviation industry on that day: the human resource constraints caused the delays, and the storm caused the diversions - flights couldn’t land at O.R. Tambo,” Dlamini said.
“Both events compounded the flight disruptions that had direct effects on other airports as well, since O.R. Tambo is the country’s hub.”