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Durban’s air connectivity is moving in the right direction, with King Shaka International Airport steadily recovering from pandemic-related disruptions and passenger numbers climbing back towards pre-Covid levels. For a city like Durban - where tourism, major events, and business are central – this recovery is significant. More reliable connections make Durban more accessible while strengthening its appeal to overseas visitors.
According to Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), KSIA handled 5.6 million passengers during the 2025/26 financial year – an incredible 92% recovery against its pre-pandemic 2019/20 passenger baseline. That is significant considering the scale of the disruption caused by Covid-19, when passenger numbers dropped to just 1.5 million.
During the 2025-26 festive season, KZN welcomed more than 1.2 million visitors - 19% year-on-year increase that supported more than 14 000 jobs. Data from the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Film Authority also recorded around 194 000 international tourists in the first quarter of 2025, contributing approximately R1.5 billion in foreign spend.
This is notable growth for KZN’s tourism gateway.
Building connectivity through KSIA
The airport is now steadily rebuilding its connectivity, although its route network remains predominantly domestic. FlySafair currently leads the domestic market with five routes, followed by CemAir and Airlink, while Lift, South African Airways and other carriers also contribute to the network. Eswatini Air provides regional connectivity.
Internationally, Durban is connected to major global hubs via Emirates, Turkish Airlines, and Qatar Airways, with routes to Dubai, Istanbul, and Doha. While no new airline entrants have been announced, ACSA says KSIA is steadily progressing towards its pre-pandemic performance levels.
“Despite ongoing conflict in the Middle East, international carriers have successfully restored their daily flight frequencies,” Nkosinathi Myataza, ACSA Regional General Manager, told Time Out Durban. “This reflects growing market confidence, sustained demand, and a positive outlook for both the airport and the destination.”
Myataza noted that the launch of Club Med South Africa on the KZN North Coast will further contribute to tourism growth in KwaZulu-Natal and the country as a whole.
“KwaZulu-Natal offers a unique and diverse tourism experience, combining the appeal of the warm beaches, the Drakensberg mountains, and bush wildlife attractions, making it an attractive destination for both local and international travellers,” he notes.
The airport is investing for what's next
ACSA is also investing heavily in the future of the airport, with a R21.7 billion infrastructure programme across its airport network and upgrades planned at KSIA. This includes upgrades to existing facilities and infrastructure, new airport facilities and compliance-related projects.
The airport has also earned international recognition, ranking fourth among Africa's best airports in the 2026 Skytrax World Airport Awards, as well as second in the Best Regional Airport category.
“King Shaka International Airport is a critical asset of the regional economic activity in the province, supporting not only tourism growth and global connectivity but strengthening trade flows,” says Myataza.
The global aviation landscape is changing, with airlines pushing the boundaries of long-haul travel. Qantas’ Project Sunrise, for example, is expected to launch a direct Sydney-London service from October 2027, covering around 17,015km in approximately 20 hours.
Durban isn't quite at the 20-hour non-stop stage, but it doesn't need to be… just yet. King Shaka is steadily rebuilding its passenger volumes - and with tourism developments such as Club Med alongside airport upgrades - KwaZulu-Natal's primary gateway is putting the city on a stronger footing for the next chapter of its tourism growth.
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