King Shaka expects second Middle Eastern carrier

A month short of the first anniversary of its opening, King Shaka International Airport has already exceeded tourism and cargo expectations, according to KwaZulu Natal MEC for Economic Development and Tourism Michael Mabuyakhulu. Speaking in the KwaZulu- Natal legislature last Thursday, Mabuyakhulu said that more than 4.5 million passengers had passed through the airport since it opened and that this figure was expected to rise by 7.5% in 2011. The MEC also praised the Dube Trade Port that began trading around the same time the airport began operating, saying that the cargo terminal had handled more than 6 300 tons of cargo up to the end of February 2011. Some 4 550 tons were imports valued in excess of R180 million and 1 750 tons were exports valued at approximately R60 million. The trade zone’s warehouse facility is also fully operational and for the first time houses the local airfreight logistics industry under one roof. The overhead conveyor system, one of few such facilities globally, will be commissioned next month. This will ensure that DTP stays at the leading edge of cargo security and will improve cargo movement between the terminal and the Trade House, said Mabuyakhulu. Plans are under way to attract more international carriers from Europe, India, South East Asia and the Middle East, he said. Emirates Airlines will be introducing a double-daily service in October. This means a flight in the morning and in the afternoon and this will be preceded by the Emirates and DTP hosting of the first World Air Cargo Africa Conference in Durban in which global airlines, local manufacturers and the logistics industry will share ideas on the improved role of airlines in the competitive global market. He was also confident that in the course of this year a second Middle Eastern carrier would launch a daily service to King Shaka International Airport. “While casting our net wide for global international airlines we are also determined to seize opportunities offered by the increasingly integrating SADC economy as we are targeting destinations such as Luanda, Harare, Lusaka, Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, Windhoek, Lilongwe and Mbabane,” the MEC said.