Users slam impractical new Durban airport

Durban’s King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) has come in for serious flak from airlines and their customers who accuse cargo terminal operators Dube TradePort of having employed an architect who didn’t seem aware of the airport users’ needs. The air cargo terminal was opened with much fanfare in May, with promises of stateof- the-art equipment adding a new dimension to the service offering for airfreight customers. But “state-of-the-art” turned out to be the wrong stuff in the wrong place, according to FTW’s two commentators. “All the fancy equipment at the cargo acceptance area was only built to handle small parcels, not the airfreight cargo we handle,” said Alwyn Rautenbach, MD of Airlink International Cargo and chairman of the Air Cargo Operators’ Committee (Acoc). In instant agreement was Tim Barron, Durban airfreight manager of Safcor Panalpina. “This was designed as a domestic express terminal,” he told FTW, “only capable of handling a maximum mass of 40-kilograms, and of limited dimensions. “But national carrier SAA and the other airlines need it to handle international freight packages, so it just doesn’t work.” Both our sources also agreed with SAA’s comments to FTW, complaining that Dube TradePort had not discussed the terminal needs with the airlines or the cargo operators. “The developers never interviewed anyone in the industry,” said Barron, “but seem to have just gone to an architect and asked him to design a building.” It’s a beautiful building, both said, with Rautenbach adding that it worked very well as an airport – but not the cargo terminal it should be. “It’s a pity they didn’t discuss it with the airlines while it was still in the planning stage,” he said. “It’s just not as well suited to our airfreight needs as it should be.” Another potential disaster point, according to Barron, is the 16 cargo doors. “They have been equipped with dock levellers that are just too high for the type of trucks we use in Durban,” he said. “You buy equipment that fits your needs, and Durban air cargo just doesn’t merit buying a big truck that would match these door heights.” The new facility was also designed for a single operator, Barron added. But it’s shared by three airlines and the sole handlers of international cargo, Worldwide Flight Services – and just isn’t big enough. “It’s also very expensive to be in Durban,” said Rautenbach.