NATIONAL NEWS - The Ethekwini Municipality in KZN is exploring plans for a second airport on the South Coast to improve regional accessibility and boost tourism.
South Coast Sun reports that city manager Musa Mbhele revealed the proposal during the mayoral tourism trade stakeholder engagement held in Durban on 4 September.
Durban International Airport, formerly Louis Botha Airport in Prospecton, served as the city’s main airport until May 2010, when King Shaka International Airport opened in La Mercy, 35km away.
The relocation was prompted by Durban International’s 2.4km runway, which was too short for jumbo jets, compared with King Shaka’s 3.7km runway.
Transnet purchased Durban International Airport from Airports Company South Africa for R1.8b in 2012 and leased it to Seaworld in 2017.
Seaworld had planned to invest R200m in reviving the facility and reopening it to flights.
Still, the project stalled after the company discovered existing tenants occupying the terminal, leading to a fallout with Transnet. The dispute ended up in court after Transnet terminated the lease in 2018.
eThekwini Municipality’s municipal manager, Musa Mbhele, speaking at the mayoral tourism trade stakeholder engagement.
Sapphire Coast Tourism’s Romy Wenzel said if an airport were to be built on the South Coast, it would give a boost to the region.
“We used to accommodate a lot of travellers, either arriving or departing from the old airport before 2010, due to its proximity to Amanzimtoti and the surrounds. Unfortunately, things took a turn when King Shaka Airport opened on the complete opposite side of town.
"We believe that since then, the southern region has not seen the same level of attention, which even the city manager confirmed himself,” said Wenzel.
The possible location of the proposed airport has not been disclosed, but the old airport is used by Transnet as an extension of the port’s cargo terminal. The company has plans to start building a dug-out port on the site in 2030.
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