Four new airlines launched services to King Shaka International Airport last year. What is behind this sudden increase in interest in KZN? Sue van Winsen investigates.
Since opening in 2010, Durban’s King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) has been on a major drive to attract international airlines. While initially growth was slow, with just Emirates and Air Mauritius operating scheduled services, in the last year Turkish Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Qatar Airways and Proflight all commenced flights to the airport.
Passenger volumes also continue to grow, with a 6.1% increase in international passenger traffic in the 2014/2015 financial year compared with same period in 2013/2014. This follows on from a 22.5% increase in international passenger volumes in the year prior.
One of the reasons cited for the sudden increase in interest is the recent hosting of the World Route Development Forum, which saw aviation stakeholders from some 150 different countries converging on Durban in September last year. Another reason is that Durban has been awarded the rights to host the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which Jonathan Minnett, Qatar Airways Country Manager SA, said was one of the reasons the airline had sought to expand its presence.
While no European carriers currently operate flights into Durban, the airport has benefited significantly from the new entrants as many are considered network carriers because they have extensive route networks throughout the globe. For example, Ethiopian flies to 84 international destinations, making it the biggest airline in Africa, while Emirates flies to over 150 and Turkish to over 200 international destinations.
Discussing the launch of Turkish Airlines service on November 5, 2015, Phillip Sithole, Head of Durban Tourism said: “Turkish Airlines in particular targets our key source markets and we are pleased that travellers from Europe, Africa, Asia and America now have a convenient and affordable option to fly directly to the city of Durban.”
Plans are in place to further reinforce Durban’s hub status by further developing nearby tourism infrastructure. Explaining KwaZulu Natal’s strategy for KSIA at a parliamentary committee briefing last year, Michael Mabuyakhulu, KZN MEC for Economic Development and Tourism, said the KwaZulu Natal Integrated Aerotropolis Strategy (IAS) recommended the development of a Durban Aerotropolis centred on KSIA, which spanned an area covering an hour’s travel from the airport, with the intention of KSIA becoming a hub for air travel.
International and regional airline schedules
Airlink
Airlink operates three flights a week between Maputo and Durban on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Flights depart Durban at 10h10 arriving in Maputo at 11h25. The return flight departs Maputo at 11h45 arriving in Durban at 13h05.
Air Mauritius
Air Mauritius flies twice weekly between Mauritius and Durban on Mondays and Fridays. Flights depart Mauritius at 09h00 arriving in Durban at 11h20. The return flight departs Durban at 12h20 arriving in Mauritius at 18h10.
Emirates
Emirates flies daily between Dubai and Durban, with flights departing Dubai at 10h40 arriving in Durban at 17h05. The return flight departs Durban at 19h10 arriving in Dubai at 05h25 the following day.
Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines flies thrice-weekly between Addis Ababa and Durban on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flights depart Addis Ababa at 08h30 arriving in Durban at 13h40. The return flight departs Durban at 14h30 arriving in Addis Ababa at 21h40.
Proflight
Proflight operates the Lusaka-Durban route three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Flights depart Lusaka at 09h50 on Tuesdays and Thursdays to arrive in Durban at 12h20. On Sundays flights depart Lusaka at 08h15 to arrive in Durban at 10h45. The return flight on Tuesdays and Thursdays departs Durban at 13h00, arriving in Lusaka at 15h30. On Sundays, flights depart Durban at 11h25 to arrive in Lusaka at 13h55. This schedule is valid from March 1 to November 15 and the airline’s full schedule can be downloaded here.
Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways operates the Doha-Durban route four times a week on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flights depart Doha at 07h55 arriving in Durban at 17h35. The return flight departs Durban at 18h45 and arrives in Doha at 06h20 the following day.
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines operates four flights a week between Istanbul and Durban (via Johannesburg) on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Flights depart Istanbul at 01h20 arriving in Johannesburg at 12h35 and then in Durban at 13h45. The return flight departs Durban at 17h00, arriving in Johannesburg at 18h10, departing Johannesburg at 19h25 arriving in Istanbul at 05h05 next day.
