TECHNICAL GLITCH AT PASSPORT CONTROL CAUSES DELAYS AT OR TAMBO

Technical challenges were to blame for the long queues experienced by travellers going through passport control at OR Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) on Monday.

The Border Management Authority’s (BMA) passport control system had a problem with its biometric movement control system as it was unresponsive.

This caused extensive delays and long queues leading to travellers getting impatient as they faced the possibility of missing their international flights.

In a statement released by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), it said that BMA technicians were working around the clock to fix the issue.

“While ACSA has sufficient personnel on hand to manage the situation, the delays are a direct result of the system failure.”

This means, the BMA had to resort to manual procedures which resulted in delays.

ACSA said it “strongly advise(s) passengers to arrive early” as its personnel work towards ensuring a smooth experience.

This delay follows the recent refuelling challenges faced by airlines at ORTIA that also caused massive delays. Several flights were cancelled due to the problem.

Image credit: The Citizen