Whatshot
Durban's double-digit international passenger growth at King Shaka
Durban's double-digit international passenger growth at King Shaka
King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) in Durban ended 2018 on a record high by growing international passenger numbers by 13% in December. This, together with strong domestic passenger growth of more than 6% for 2018, saw KSIA retaining its position as South Africa's fastest growing major airport for a second year.
The December peak season performance follows an 11% increase in international passenger numbers for November, compared to November 2017. KSIA handled almost 5.9 million domestic and international passengers in total during 2018, of which 372,543 were passengers flying on international routes.
"British Airways new non-stop service between London's Heathrow International Airport and Durban, introduced in late October 2018, has propelled growth at KSIA. We are now seeing double digit growth in international passengers," says Hamish Erskine, Co-Chair of Durban Direct and CEO of Dube TradePort Corporation.
"Erskine explains that besides the 11% international passenger growth in November 2018 and 13% growth in December, respectively (compared to the November and December 2017), KSIA's international passenger numbers grew by a 42% record high month-on-month, between November and December 2018. Besides the new British Airways route, this was due to Emirates putting on extra flights between Dubai and Durban in December.
According to official statistics from the Airports Company of South Africa, KSIA handled a total of 5,880,390 passengers in 2018, showing a growth of 6.4%. The airport also handled a record total of 553,149 passengers in December 2018, of which 41054 where travelling on international routes. KSIA's previous record month was in December 2017, when it handled 520,930 passengers.
Phindile Makwakwa, Co-Chair of Durban Direct and CEO Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, notes: "Growth in passengers flying direct to Durban from international markets is on the rise, however Johannesburg continues to be an important transit point for international travelers connecting into Durban on domestic flights. Nevertheless, the introduction of the nonstop service between Durban and London by British Airways has seen an increase in international passengers flying directly into Durban during November and December 2018."