Airlink’s inaugural flight between Harare and Durban, using its modern Embraer ERJ135, arrived in Durban on Tuesday (April 5).

Durban Direct, the KZN Route Development Committee, arranged a water cannon salute as the aircraft touched down with a full load of passengers, the first of thousands who are expected to boost trade and tourism between the cities.

Airlink CEO Rodger Foster said Durban and KwaZulu Natal’s coastal towns had deep business, tourism and private connections with Harare and most of Zimbabwe’s economic and urban nodes.

“Although these have historical roots, they also reflect the dynamism and entrepreneurship that characterise the vibrant trade between the two markets.” 

However, he said the market was under-served and in need of support, which was why Airlink had stepped in to introduce the new route with three weekly flights. 

“Visitors arriving at King Shaka International from Zimbabwe peaked at 36 879 in 2018, but began falling in 2019 and have halved since then. We believe that the convenience, appeal and affordability of direct flights will stimulate travel between the two cities and will promote additional economic activity, including trade, tourism and investment in and around Durban and nearby coastal towns,” said Foster.

“Many of you may have read or heard that Airlink recently launched other routes that will enhance eThekwini’s and KwaZulu Natal’s economic and tourism competitiveness. They include our new double-daily Durban-Gqeberha service and just yesterday we resumed direct flights between King Shaka International Airport and Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport near Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit).”

He said the routes highlighted the importance the airline attached to the eThekwini/KZN market and its confidence in its potential. “It is a potential that Airlink, by providing convenient, reliable and affordable air connectivity for passengers and the cargo shipments, is ready to realise.”

He said Airlink was working closely with Dube Tradeport, Airports Company SA, Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal, SA Tourism, eThekwini Municipality, the KZN Provincial Government and private-sector businesses and customers.

Foster said tourism was still recovering and remained far short of 2019 visitor and occupancy levels. “As my Dube Trade Port and Acsa colleagues can confirm, air traffic to and from King Shaka International Airport has only recovered to just more than a third of pre-pandemic levels.”

KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Ravi Pillay, said the new route would significantly improve both leisure and business travel, to assist the tourism sector’s recovery from the devastation of the COVID-19 Pandemic. “Importantly, too, the air route opens the doors to the prospect of an altogether new era of air-based trade between Durban and its borders and Harare.”

Airlink will offer three direct flights a week between the two cities. International airlines that now fly direct to Durban are Qatar Airways, South African Airways, Emirates and Turkish Airlines.