Start-up airline Khuphuka
Kings Airways is set to
launch weekly flights into the
Democratic Republic of Congo.
Based in the Dube Trade
Port in Durban, the company is
also planning to open routes to
Zambia, Nigeria and Swaziland.
The service will do ad hoc
flights to Ndola Zambia if
and when the demand arises,
according to the airline’s
marketing director Sihle Bam.
Initially it will operate two
ILyushin 76 planes, which have a
carrying capacity of 46 tons each.
The ILyushin 76 aircraft have
the range to fly anywhere in
the world from Durban, which
means that shippers can use the
Dube Trade Port as a hub for freight
into Africa, says Bam.
Responding to news of the launch
of the company in February 2014,
Dube Trade Port Corporation’s
chairperson Bridgette Gasa, said the
new airline would facilitate trade
between South Africa and the rest of
the continent.
“On the back of poor road
and rail networks linking major
African cities, air transport
is essential for intra-African
business.
“Driving this integration among
African countries will continue to
be critical in terms of creating an
open environment for business,
an environment which allows
goods and people to transcend
borders more freely,” she said.
According to Bam,
the airline plans to start
operating from August 2014.
Services will include cargo
flights to and from the new King
Mswati 3 Airport (KM3) in
Swaziland.
CAPTION
The aircraft to be flown by
Khuphuka Kings Airways.
