Airports Company South Africa marked the 14th anniversary of King Shaka International Airport (DUR) on Workers’ Day (May 1).
Owned and managed by Acsa, DUR has been central to the movement of people and goods in the region of KwaZulu Natal since its inception on May 1, 2010, acting as a major catalyst for investment and development for the province and the country as a whole.
Nkosinathi Myataza, Regional GM at DUR, commented: "Over the past 14 years, DUR has grown from a newly constructed facility to a key player in our economic landscape, facilitating extensive connections within and beyond South Africa. Our completion of this R6.8 billion (€342.7m) project within 36 months set a precedent for efficient project execution."
The transition from the old Durban International Airport to King Shaka reflects careful planning and valuable lessons learnt from similar projects in Europe. "The airport was operational just in time for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, successfully managing the significant influx of visitors, which was a major test of our new facilities," Myataza added.
Following the World Cup, DUR established itself as a gateway for tourism and business, significantly impacting the KwaZulu Natal region. Despite fluctuations in passenger volumes due to global economic conditions, DUR continuously explored initiatives to enhance its appeal and operational efficiency.
"We've not only focused on increasing traffic but also on positioning King Shaka as a destination in its own right, improving facilities and infrastructure to enhance the travel experience," Myataza explained.
The expertise gained was subsequently leveraged as a revenue driver by assisting airports in other countries, such as Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Zambia, and Kotoka International Airport in Ghana.
Also locally at Pietermaritzburg, Richards Bay, Margate, Mkhuze, Newcastle International and Wonderboom airports, to provide advisory services, construct, and operationalise their airports. This became known as Acsa’s Operational Readiness and Transfer Programme, which was successfully marketed to other parts of the continent.
Recovery
King Shaka International Airport processed more than 4.9 million passengers in the financial year 2023-2024, compared with 6.09 million in 2019/2020. King Shaka has currently recovered to 82% of its pre-pandemic passenger levels compared with 2019/20, with a 72.1% international recovery and an 82.5% domestic recovery.
“We continue to operate in a challenging environment, not only shaped by the COVID-19 pandemic but also by the recent natural and socio-political disruptions that have affected our province. Despite these hurdles, King Shaka International Airport maintains its status as a leading regional airport in Africa.
“Our recovery remains volatile and has not reached the peaks of our two other main international airports – OR Tambo International and Cape Town – which have reached and even exceeded pre-COVID-19 traffic volumes. This is because our recovery is uniquely influenced by various external factors,” Acsa said.
Myataza said fostering stakeholder relationships was crucially important for King Shaka. “We are therefore actively involved with initiatives such as Durban Direct, a multi-entity and departmental committee dedicated to driving the co-ordination and promotion of air services at King Shaka International Airport. Similarly, we also work closely with the various business chambers and associations to ensure that our interests are aligned and mutually beneficial.”
Looking ahead
Acsa plans to invest R21.7 billion (€1bn) in developing airport infrastructure across its network over the next five years. "This investment will focus on refurbishments, efficiency improvements, and statutory compliance measures, aiming to enhance asset availability, airport safety, and passenger experiences," said Myataza.
Other initiatives include intermodal integration, ensuring that travellers can seamlessly transition from one mode of transport to another, enabling access to and from the airport via public transport that is organised and formalised.
“By influencing and enabling the last mile of connectivity between air travel and road transport, we can ensure that more South Africans can fly at affordable rates. We are thus exploring partnerships and collaborations to ensure that we establish complementary transport services that will positively impact the economic development of the region.”
Acsa added that King Shaka’s Skytrax award for 2024 Best Regional Airport in Africa was a testament to the commitment and contribution of its staff and stakeholders.
“As we mark the 14th anniversary of King Shaka International Airport, it remains committed to promoting inclusive growth that boosts the economy, creates jobs, and empowers the people of South Africa.”
