Expansion of both the Durban and Richards Bay airport precincts is either under way or is being planned to support growth in airfreight volumes.
Durban’s airfreight operator, Dube Cargo Terminal, located within King Shaka International Airport, opened a new public bonded warehouse on 1 April.
In May, the Dube TradePort Corporation (DTPC) opened the second phase of its aeropark and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) adjacent to the airport.
Dube TradeZone 2 had, at the time of the official launch, already attracted investments worth R1.8 billion, according to DTPC board chair, Mpumelelo Zikalala.
TradeZone 1 has secured about R2.8 billion in investments by companies focused on air-related logistics, distribution and light manufacturing.
Richards Bay plans to move its airport. A suitable site has been identified, but bringing the plan to fruition entails re-zoning, acquiring privately owned land and working through a host of regulatory hurdles.
- For more news about the ports of Durban and Richards Bay, please see our current Freight Feature.