DURBAN AIRPORT (DUR) INFORMATION

King Shaka Airport, sometimes abbreviated KSIA or KZA, is the primary international airport serving the city of Durban, South Africa. The airport is located in La Mercy, KwaZulu-Natal roughly 35 km/22 mi north of Durban’s city center.

The airport began operating on the 1st of May, 2010 replacing Durban International Airport just over a month before the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and at this time the new airport also took over the IATA code (DUR) from the old airport. The ICAO code for Durban Airport is FALE.

While King Shaka and Durban Airports are two completely different locations and airports, the King Shaka Airport is also referred to as Durban Airport due to the fact that is serving the city and also uses the same IATA code (DUR).

Durban Airport is a key airport for domestic South African services as part of the “Golden Triangle” between King Shaka, Cape Town International Airport and O. R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

The airport is a public airport with a passenger terminal as well as a cargo terminal. The cargo terminal is owned by Dube Tradeport Corporation while the passenger terminal is owned by Airports Company South Africa. It is a focus city for Comair, Kulula.com and FlySafari.

The airport, even though it didn’t open until 2010, was first conceptualized in the 1970’s with constructions beginning in 1973 and by 1975 earthworks and a storm drainage system were complete, but by 1982 the whole project was halted due to finances.

As the limitations of Durban International Airport became more and more apparent in the 1990’s and the early 2000’s the project was revived.

The airport is named after Shaka, the leader of the Zulu nation in the early 19th century.

Durban Airport has a cargo and a passenger terminal. The cargo terminal is located in the approximate center of the airport precinct and sits to the north of the passenger terminal.

The passenger terminal is thus located at the southern end of the airport and it is divided into two levels with arrivals on the lower level and the departures on the upper level.

The check-in concourse, on the departures level, has 72 check-in counters as well as 18 self-service kiosks, and there are also ticket offices for various airlines that operate out of the airport. The baggage claim area is located on the arrivals level and it has 5 conveyor belts serving both domestic and international flights.

There is also an International Terminal that is located to the left of the airport.

The airport has 16 jet bridges as well as 34 aircraft parking bays.

The airport has more than 50 retail outlets, divided on both levels as well as a piazza located immediately outside the terminal building.

Between April 2019 and March 2020 the airport saw 6,099,628 passengers move through it. At the beginning DUR saw 5% international traffic, but it has grown (pre Covid-19 pandemic) to almost 24%. King Shaka has a capacity of handling 7,5 million passengers per year and the increase in international passenger growth has allowed for international cargo to grow with 25%.

The airport has one single asphalt runway that is 3,700 m/12,139 ft long. Provisions have already been made for a second runway in the future, when demand requires it.

Arrivals, Departures and Airlines at Durban Airport

• See live flight arrivals information at Durban Airport
• See live flight departures information at Durban Airport
• See all airlines and routes that serve Durban Airport

Transfers at Durban Airport

Rental Cars – The large number of rental car companies at Durban Airport can be found in the rental car facility that is located right next to the terminal, opposite the multi-story facility.

Buses – There are public transportation options available at the airport as well as private companies offering their shuttle services from and to the airport. The departures from the airport to Durban are scheduled with departures approximately every 45 minutes from early morning to late evening all days of the week with no need for reservation in advance. The shuttle will drop off travelers at all Durban hotels as well as a number of other locations around Durban.

To transfer to the airport via the shuttles requires a booking in advance so the driver knows where to go to collect the traveler. The journey time will vary depending on the number of stops, but the fare is around 80-90 ZAR for a single adult. Tickets are purchased on the bus when transferring from the airport and at the time of booking when transferring to it. More information about bus services to and from Durban Airport.

Taxis – Taxi ranks with official taxi cabs are located outside the arrivals area and it is recommended to only use these taxis. There might be other taxis available in other areas, but these are not permitted and sometimes not licensed at all and it is not recommended to use them. The journey to Durban will take around 30-45 minutes depending on the exact location of the destination and it will cost around 500 ZAR. More information about taxis to and from Durban Airport.

Hotel Shuttles – Some of the hotels in the area offer their guests a service of airport transfer. These are arranged by the hotel and the traveler has to request it through the hotel directly. An additional charge usually applies for the service. The hotel will inform the traveler of the exact location of pick up. See a selection of hotels near Durban Airport.

Ride Shares – Two ride share companies are operating at Durban Airport, Bolt and Uber. Rides are requested by the traveler through the chosen company’s app as they arrive at the airport.

Trains – There is no train option for transferring to and from the airport, but it is possible to transfer to or from other locations around South Africa from or to Durban Railway Station in the city. Locations include Johannesburg and Cape Town as well as a number of nearby locations. More information about train services in Durban.

Parking at Durban Airport

A multi-story parking facility is located corner to corner across the street in front of the passenger terminal. This is the hourly and short-term parking option. The first 15 minutes are free of charge. Shaded parking lots are found behind the multi-story facility with the long-term parkade located in the corner behind one of those lots. More details about parking at Durban Airport.

Amenities and Services at Durban Airport

The airport has more than 50 retail establishments as well as a variety of food and beverage establishments. There is also a pharmacy, ATMs, currency exchange, a post office, a clinic and much more available in various areas of the terminal.

Additional Services and Amenities at Durban Airport

At Durban Airport you will find the usual array of bars and restaurants, airport lounges and shops.

• See all bars and restaurants inside Durban Airport
• See and book airport lounges at Durban Airport
• Plan your shopping in advance - see all the shops (including duty-free) at Durban Airport

Closest International Airport to Durban Airport (DUR)

The closest international airport to Durban Airport is Matsapha Airport (MTS) in Manzini, Swaziland. Other international airports in South Africa are OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg (JNB) and Cape Town International Airport in Cape Town (CPT). Together with DUR these two South African airports form what is called the Golden Triangle and they are very well domestically interconnected.

Things to do in Durban

There are a number of activities to suit all ages and interests in the region - see a selection of tourist activities in Durban, South Africa.

Durban Airport (DUR) Contacts

Address: King Shaka Airport, King Shaka Dr, La Mercy, 4407, South Africa
General Phone: +27 32 436 6000
General Email: customercare@airports.co.za
Lost and Found Phone: +27 32 436 6000
Lost and Found Email: customercare@airports.co.za
Official Website: https://www.airports.co.za/airports/king-shaka-international-airport

Local Information

Drive on: Left
Electricity: 230 V/50 Hz
Plug: C, D, M and N
Currency: South African Rand, ZAR