Durban is exploring plans for a second airport in the south to drive tourism growth and connectivity, according to a proposal revealed during the Mayoral Tourism Trade Stakeholder Engagement held at the beginning of September.
“The Municipality has been observing an increasing trend in local and foreign direct investment within the city. The Municipality is exploring various ways to exploit opportunities presented by the economic growth. As part of the exploration, the Municipality is considering the development of a second airport in the south of Durban. It is common knowledge that airports act as a catalyst for economic growth and lead to a significant increase in benefits,” eThekwini Municipality’s Spokesperson Gugu Sisilana told Travel News.
Sisilana said the plans were still in an exploratory stage and that more details would be revealed once a due diligence study had been completed. “More details will be shared in respect of the exact location, conceptual plans, and a special-purpose vehicle to be used to develop such an airport,” said Sisilana.
The old Durban Airport
It is unclear whether the new plans will involve redeveloping the Durban International Airport or constructing a new one. Plans to transform the old airport into a second airport have long been under discussion but have faced many setbacks following legal battles over lease and bid agreements.
In 2017, the owner of the airport, Transnet Property, signed a 10-year lease with Seaworld Aviation. Seaworld intended to establish a hub for smaller airlines, improving connectivity to the South Coast.
In 2018, Transnet cancelled the lease after Seaworld allegedly violated sub-leasing rules. According to Transnet Property, Seaworld had sublet the airport to tenants not related to aviation while Seaworld claimed Transnet failed to evict its tenants.
Another bidder for the lease, Amabhunesi Property Holdings, challenged the process, alleging that its bid to transform the site into a logistics hub was unfairly blocked.
The dispute has resulted in a drawn-out legal battle.
Durban International Airport (formerly Louis Botha Airport), served as the city’s main airport until May 2010, when King Shaka International Airport opened 35km away.
