King Shaka Airport still feeling the COVID-19 pinch
King Shaka International Airport says it has not fully recovered from the impact of COVID-19.
This in spite of being named the Best Regional Airport in Africa at the 2025 Skytrax World Airport Awards in April.
Speaking to Newswatch at Africa's Travel Indaba at the Durban ICC, General Manager Nkosinathi Myataza said while recovery is underway, they are not yet where they want to be.
" Roughly now running around about 87% of pre-COVID numbers. One of the factors that hit was that we lost quite a number of low-cost carriers, like Kulula and Mango.
"What it means is that having lost that, it left a gap in the market, and Durban being a leisure destination, people are very price sensitive. Now with the limited number of airlines, it affects heavily on the impact on how we recover as King Shaka."
READ: New international flights land at King Shaka Airport
He said talks are underway for direct flights with Air France and other international players.
"We are starting to talk to the UK again. We might be seeing if we can get the Heathrow to Durban flight back, and there are quite a few discussions again in Sub-Saharan Africa, where we will be talking about the possibility of increasing frequencies in the likes of China, Eswatini. We might be talking to Angola. We might be seeing what the possibilities are," said Myataza.
Meanwhile, KZN Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs MEC Musa Zondo has praised King Shaka for being named the Best Regional Airport in Africa.
He said it all ties in with the new R2 billion Club Med resort opening next July on the KZN North Coast.
Find us on social media
Follow the ECR Newswatch WhatsApp channel here
