Ruth Haines
Durban's primary international airport is King Shaka International Airport (KSIA), located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 kilometres (22 miles) north of the city centre. The airport opened in 2010, replacing Durban International Airport, which was previously located 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of the city. Durban International Airport suffered from low international passenger numbers and a runway that was too short for large aircraft, prompting the development of KSIA to accommodate larger aircraft and increase international services.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | King Shaka International Airport (formerly Durban International Airport) |
| Location | La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa |
| Distance from Durban City Centre | 35 km (22 mi) |
| Year Opened | 2010 |
| Cost of Construction | R 6,800,000,000 (about US$900 million) |
| Designer | Osmond Lange Architects and Planners |
| Passenger Traffic (2024-2025) | 5.04 million |
| Aircraft Traffic (2024-2025) | 40,935 |
| Accessibility | N2 freeway, R102 road, M65 |
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What You'll Learn
Durban's airport is now King Shaka International Airport
The construction of King Shaka International Airport began in September 2007, after plans to move the airport to La Mercy were proposed and shelved numerous times over several decades. The new airport was designed by Osmond Lange Architects and Planners and cost approximately R 6,800,000,000 (around US$900 million). It features a 2,400-metre (7,874-foot) runway, which is long enough to accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 for intercontinental routes.
King Shaka International Airport offers a range of amenities and services to enhance the travelling experience, including shops, restaurants, a bank, and a post office. It is also significantly larger than the former Durban International Airport, with three times the floor area and five times as many shops. The airport is easily accessible from both the N2 freeway and the R102 road, providing convenient connections to and from Durban and the surrounding areas.
In the 2024-2025 financial year, King Shaka International Airport handled 5.04 million passengers, with the majority being domestic travellers. The airport is an important hub for domestic and international travel in South Africa, forming one-third of the country's "Golden Triangle" of international airports, along with Cape Town International Airport and O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
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It's 35km north of Durban
Durban's primary international airport is King Shaka International Airport (IATA: DUR, ICAO: FALE), which is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 km (22 mi) north of the city centre. It is about 35 kilometres north of Durban, to be precise. The airport, which is also known as La Mercy Airport, opened in May 2010, just a month before the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It replaced Durban International Airport (ICAO: FADN), which was 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of Durban and served as the city's international airport from 1951 until 2010.
King Shaka International Airport was designed to enhance the region's international services and is part of South Africa's "Golden Triangle" of airports, which also includes Cape Town International Airport and O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg. It is a significant hub for domestic flights within South Africa, with seven passenger and two cargo airlines providing domestic services. The airport was constructed at a cost of R 6,800,000,000 (around US$900 million) and was designed by Osmond Lange Architects and Planners.
The airport is accessible from the N2 freeway and the R102 road, with the M65 connecting the N2 at exit 195 to the airport. It offers a range of amenities to ensure a pleasant travel experience, including shops, restaurants, a bank, and a post office. King Shaka International Airport is also significantly larger than its predecessor, Durban International Airport, with three times the floor space and five times the number of shops.
The construction of King Shaka International Airport addressed the limitations of Durban International Airport, particularly the short runway that could not accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 for intercontinental flights. Durban's former airport suffered from low international passenger numbers due to these constraints, resulting in a decline in international air traffic compared to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
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It opened in 2010, replacing Durban International Airport
Durban's primary international airport, King Shaka International Airport, opened in May 2010. It replaced Durban International Airport, which had served the area since 1951.
The new airport is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 km (22 mi) north of Durban's city centre. It is about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of the previous airport. King Shaka International Airport was designed by Osmond Lange Architects and Planners and cost R 6,800,000,000 (around US$900 million). It features 6,500 public parking bays and is accessible by road and shuttle bus.
The airport was built to accommodate more international services, as Durban International Airport suffered from low international passenger numbers. This was largely due to the runway being too short for large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 to take off and land. As a result, Durban lost a lot of international traffic to Johannesburg.
Despite the high construction costs, King Shaka International Airport was designed without a viewing deck or travellators. It is unclear what the future of the previous airport site will be, but it is expected to be used for industrial development.
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Durban International Airport suffered from low international passenger numbers
Durban International Airport (ICAO: FADN) was the major airport serving Durban, South Africa, from 1951 until 2010. The airport was originally named Louis Botha International, after the South African statesman, until political changes in 1994 led to its renaming.
While the airport served the domestic market well, it suffered from low international passenger numbers. This was due to the airport's runway being too short for large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 to take off and land. As a result, Durban lost almost all of its international traffic. The hub and spoke policy adopted in the 1990s also favoured OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, further contributing to the low international passenger numbers at Durban International Airport.
The need for a larger airport with a longer runway to accommodate larger aircraft and increase international services led to the development of King Shaka International Airport. Construction of the new airport began in 2007 and it opened its doors to passengers on May 1, 2010, becoming the primary international airport serving Durban. King Shaka International Airport is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 km (22 mi) north of the city centre of Durban.
The new airport is three times bigger than Durban International Airport and offers a range of features to enhance the travelling experience, including shops, restaurants, a bank, and a post office. It is designed to handle larger aircraft and has become a key airport for domestic and international services throughout South Africa.
The future usage of the Durban International Airport site is currently unclear, but it is expected to be used for industrial development or port expansion due to its large, flat parcel of land in an otherwise hilly terrain.
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It is expected that the old airport site will be used for industrial development
Durban's primary international airport is King Shaka International Airport (IATA: DUR, ICAO: FALE), which is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal, approximately 35 kilometres (22 miles) north of the city centre. The airport was opened in May 2010, replacing Durban International Airport (formerly Louis Botha Airport), which was the city's international airport from 1951 until 2010. Durban International Airport is located 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of King Shaka International Airport.
It is expected that the old Durban International Airport site will be used for industrial development. The site is located on a large parcel of flat land in the Durban South Industrial Basin, which is already home to much of the city's heavy industry. Given Durban's generally hilly terrain, such a large, flat parcel of land is ideal for future industrial development, port expansion, or both. While the future usage of the site is currently unclear, the expectation of industrial development indicates a potential boost to the local economy and job market.
The decision to relocate the airport was influenced by several factors. One significant factor was the limitations of Durban International Airport's runway. The runway was only 2,400 metres (7,874 feet) long, which was too short to accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 747 for intercontinental routes. This resulted in a decrease in international air traffic, causing Durban to become marginalised compared to Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Upgrading Durban International Airport was considered, but a 2007 study found that the existing airport would still face serious constraints and would reach its maximum potential by 2025. Additionally, it would have been 95% more expensive to operate Durban International Airport at its full potential and then develop King Shaka International Airport. Disputes between Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and the Dube Trade Port firm also delayed the project until national transport minister Jeff Radebe intervened.
The construction of King Shaka International Airport cost approximately R 6,800,000,000 (about US$900 million). The airport was designed by Osmond Lange Architects and Planners and is three times bigger than Durban International Airport, offering five times more shops and restaurants. It serves as a key hub for domestic and international services, connecting Durban with Cape Town and Johannesburg, known as the "Golden Triangle".
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Frequently asked questions
Durban International Airport was replaced by King Shaka International Airport in 2010. It is located 35 kilometres (22 miles) from the city centre of Durban, in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal.
The runway at Durban International Airport was too short for large aircraft such as the Boeing 747. As a result, international air traffic decreased, and Durban was marginalised in favour of Johannesburg and Cape Town.
King Shaka International Airport opened on 1 May 2010, 41 days before the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
King Shaka International Airport is a world-class facility that offers shops and restaurants, as well as essential services such as a bank and a post office.
