The new King Shaka airport in Durban

The recently completed international airport in Durban began construction in 2007 and took only three years to get into operation and was named King Shaka International Airport in honor of the legendary Zulu king who joined the dispersed tribes of the northern region of South Africa.

With a construction cost of 2.5 billion rand, the new airport is an integrated cargo and passenger airport. The terminal floor covers an area of ​​103,000 square meters and the runways and taxiways cover 400,000 square meters. The airport currently manages 7.5 million customers and is expected to handle 45 million by 2060. There are 6,500 square meters intended for commercial space to include a consolidated area for car rental. Durban Airport has ten car rental concessions that have proven popular with national and international visitors. In addition to the car rental that Durban airport offers, there are car rental agents that operate out of sight and will deliver the car when it lands.
                                           King Shaka Airport
Durban's former airport, although international, was not a preferred destination for most international airlines, due to Johannesburg's popularity for business and politics, most airlines would fly to Johannesburg and then redirect passengers in domestic flights to Durban. This was also partly due to the fact that the landing strip at Durban's previous airport was too short for a 747 loaded to take off. Ironically, due to the Johannesburg altitude, airplanes require a reduced fuel load to reach the necessary speed for takeoff on the planned runway length, which means that most long-haul flights require a stopover at Road to his destiny. This uses more fuel, since it is obviously required to land and take off again. It is believed that with the increase in handling capacity at the new Durban International Airport and for reasons of fuel economy, international carriers could begin to favor it over Johannesburg, especially as Durban becomes a more popular destination for foreign visitors.

The new Durban airport is 35 km north of the city and, without a dedicated public transport network, however, it is a good decision to link it to the city. It will also give you the opportunity to explore the beautiful countryside. King Shaka Airport is accessed via the N2 from the north and south. If driving on your own is not an option, all major hotels and guest houses will provide pick-up services by bus or car, otherwise there are also several transport operators that will take you to the city center.