A PLAN to expand the
international terminal
at Durban’s King Shaka
International Airport has come
under criticism.
Bongani Maseko, ceo of
Airports Company South
Africa, told TNW that the
company was in the planning
stages of expanding King
Shaka with a focus on
upping the capacity of the
international terminal. Bongani
says the reason for the
expansion is that the airport
has seen a 21% increase in
international traffic in the past
year. Furthermore, he says
King Shaka is a diversion
airport and supports flights
to OR Tambo International
Airport, and therefore warrants
the investment.
It is a ludicrous idea to invest
in Durban’s King Shaka
International Airport, says
Andrew Stark, md for MEA of
Flight Centre Travel Group.
A number of airlines – with
Ethiopian Airlines and Air
Seychelles the most recent –
have pulled the plug on their
Durban route. What’s more,
King Shaka’s total overseas
arrivals in June accounted for
only 3% of all airport arrivals
in SA. It received 2 952
overseas arrivals, compared
with 28 396 at Cape Town
International and 104 811
at OR Tambo International.
Bongani says he expects to
continue to see steady growth
in international traffic at King
Shaka, and says a number
of international airlines
have “shown an interest” in
launching flights to Durban.
June Crawford, ceo of Barsa,
however, says she is unaware
of any firm commitments by
new airline entrants to the
Durban market.
Andrew argues that the
double-digit growth in
international traffic over the
past year does not necessarily
mean a double-digit increase
in passenger numbers. “Acsa
should rather spend its
money on Johannesburg and
Cape Town’s domestic and
international terminals, which
have a far greater need to
enhance failing infrastructure.”
June admits that King
Shaka was not designed for
international traffic, which
has grown significantly in the
past year. However, she says
because airlines have also
withdrawn services from the
airport, the sustainability of
airport operations is a major
consideration when assessing
whether or not a major
investment should be made in
the next five years.
