Wednesday saw the launch by LIFT Airlines of its scheduled three times daily air services between Johannesburg and Durban, further boosting economic recovery in the region.
eThekwini Municipality Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda welcomed the development, saying that the city was on its way to recovery following the recent floods, the July 2021 civil unrest, and the Covid-19 pandemic.
"For any city to compete on a global stage, it is crucial to have a vibrant and competitive aviation industry because it facilitates international trade and drives rapid growth in tourism. We are pleased that this launch takes place at the time when the city is implementing its summer season campaign. We have no doubt that this event will contribute immensely to our efforts of attracting more than 900 000 visitors to the city during the festive season,” he said.
Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone CEO and co-chair of Durban Direct, Hamish Erskine, said King Shaka International Airport was one of the fastest-recovering airports in the country.
"As of June 2022, King Shaka International Airport's traffic volumes have recovered to 56% of their pre-pandemic levels. King Shaka International Airport is one of the fastest-recovering international airports in South Africa, with a majority of the traffic driven by leisure travel as well as people visiting friends and family; domestic travel has played a significant role in driving this growth. With LIFT Airlines entering the market we would like to see this development stimulate travel and accelerate traffic. Every time an aeroplane lands, jobs are created, cargo moves, hotels are filled - it has an effect on the economy,” Erskine said.
MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs in KwaZulu-Natal, Siboniso Duma, said the province welcomed the expansion of the airline’s routes to include Durban.
"The launch of LIFT Airlines air services to Durban is a welcome addition to King Shaka International Airport, improving the much-needed capacity on one of South Africa's most popular routes, Durban – Johannesburg,” Duma said.
“We aim to continue working with our airline partners to drive sustainability and stability in the market to ensure that air travel remains accessible, for the benefit of all our stakeholders."
CEO and co-founder of LIFT, Jonathan Ayache, said the firm had experienced strong demand to grow its business to include the Durban to Johannesburg route. “Durban has had its fair share of struggles over the past two years, and we are proud and happy to play a small part in bringing back travel and tourism to such a deserving city. Durban is one of the most common requests we receive on social media and has been on our radar for a while,” he said.
Ayache added that the airline intended adding a flight from Durban to Cape Town to its routes before the end of the year.
The airline has grown its fleet and has two more aircraft arriving this year.
