Durban’s King Shaka International Airport, near La Mercy
The King Shaka International Airport is located about 5km inland from La Mercy, about 30km north of Durban. It opened in May 2010, just in time for the 2010 Soccer World Cup. The King Shaka International Airport’s history began many years before it finally opened. Planning started in the 1970s and by 1975 earthworks and a storm drainage system had been completed. In its first 10 months of operation over 4 million passengers had passed through the airport.
One of the main concerns about the location of the airport is its effect on the Barn Swallows that visit annually from Europe. The King Shaka International Airport is 2.6km north of where the Mt Moreland Barn Swallows roost. The Lake Victoria Wetland where the barn swallows roost each season is a popular attraction. People visit the view site just before sunset to watch millions of barn swallows. This phenomenon occurs from about mid-October to mid-April.
There are many restaurants, curio shops, duty free shops and places to spend your last Rands before leaving the country. The airlines that fly from Durban’s airport are Air Mauritius, Airlink, British Airways, Emirates, Kulula.com, South African Airways, South African Express and Velvet Sky.
Click here to view more photos of the King Shaka International Airport.
Click here to go to the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) website.