Efforts to restore direct international air access from Europe to Durban are in the spotlight ahead of the opening of Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari in July.
Thulisile Galelekile, Durban Direct Marketing Sub-Committee Chair, which works to support airlines in launching direct air services into Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, told Tourism Update that it continued to make steady and strategic progress.
“A key focus area at present is the development of a comprehensive and data-driven business case to attract Air France to the province. This process is being strengthened through close collaboration with Club Med, which is providing forward-looking booking data, market intelligence and demand indicators to support and enhance the case being presented to the airline,” Galelekile said.
“The opening of Club Med’s new resort is expected to play a pivotal role in shifting airline perceptions of the destination.”
At the same time, further work is under way to reinstate a direct UK route. “The business case for this route is also progressing well, supported by ongoing engagements with relevant stakeholders and a continued focus on demonstrating sustainable demand, route viability and long-term tourism growth potential,” she said.
While there have been industry discussions and speculation regarding British Airways potentially reinstating direct flights to Durban, Galelekile said Durban Direct was currently unable to confirm this.
She further noted that route development was inherently complex. “Airlines make route decisions based on a range of commercial and operational considerations, including fleet availability, aircraft utilisation, network optimisation strategies and route profitability. As such, route development should be viewed as a long-term strategic effort rather than a short-term outcome.”
However, from an airline perspective, caution remains.
Speaking to Tourism Update on the sidelines of an Air France event last week, Wilson Tauro, Country Manager for Southern Africa at Air France-KLM, confirmed the ongoing engagement but highlighted the commercial realities underpinning route decisions.
“We are in regular discussions with Club Med, but also with the broader stakeholders in Durban. We're speaking to the airport authorities and tourism bodies, because Club Med has a very strong brand presence in France.”
Tauro noted that while demand was expected, it was not yet quantifiable. “We expect that there will naturally be a lot of tourists coming in from France and also from other parts of Europe. Right now, it's a bit premature because we don't know what the numbers are.”
He added that domestic demand would also play a role. “We expect a big number of travellers to Club Med to be South Africans because they love the beach and bush. Once we have a bit more clarity on what the numbers are, it gives us a possibility to explore those options.”
For now, the airline continues to rely on its existing network. “We offer connections into Durban via Johannesburg. We have daily flights into Johannesburg with both Air France and KLM, and we partner with regional airlines based in South Africa, such as Airlink and CemAir.”
Tauro was candid about the challenges of launching a direct long-haul service to Durban.
“Ideally, that would be the right thing to do, but at this point of time, the traffic in and out of Durban is not at the level to justify it for us. Let's not forget that flying in from France is a big 11-hour journey, so the aircraft is gone for a long time.”
He stressed that unless there was a good mix of leisure and business, which would keep the route sustainable, it would be very difficult for the airline to launch direct flights.
Fleet allocation is another limiting factor. “At this time, we have a lot of aircraft deployed into high-revenue routes like the US and Asia, and that's why we are a bit sceptical. We're taking a cautious approach at this point.”
Seasonality is also impacting inbound demand. “Currently, when it comes to inbound flights to South Africa, this is not a period when the traffic is at its peak. Flights are completely sold out departing South Africa from Johannesburg and Cape Town, but inbound, we still have seats.
Despite these constraints, Durban Direct remains optimistic.
“Overall, Durban Direct remains encouraged by the level of engagement and interest from international carriers. While route development timelines can be lengthy, the fundamentals supporting Durban as a viable international destination continue to strengthen. We remain committed to working collaboratively with industry partners to unlock direct international connectivity and drive long-term growth for the region,” Galelekile said.
