King Shaka International Airport (DUR)

Durban, ZA 🇿🇦 Large International Airport Scheduled Service

ICAO

FALE

IATA

DUR

Elevation

295 ft

Region

ZA-NL

Local Time

Airport Information

GPS Code: FALE

Local Code: Not available

Location: -29.614444° N, 31.119722° E

Continent: AF

Type: Large International Airport

Keywords: La Mercy Airport

Arrivals

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Departures

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External Links

Wikipedia Live Flights

Nearby Points of Interest

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Hotels View
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What Travelers Say

AI-Generated Summary Based on web research

King Shaka International Airport (FALE (DUR)) generally receives very positive traveler reviews, with a strong emphasis on its modern facilities, cleanliness, and efficient operations. The airport has been recognized globally and regionally for its high standards and user-friendly experience, with recent 2025 Skytrax awards ranking it as the Best Regional Airport in Africa and even 7th among the top 10 airports worldwide.

What Travelers Love

Modern Design and Cleanliness: Travelers consistently praise the airport's remarkable design, spacious terminals, and impeccable cleanliness throughout all facilities, including restrooms.
Efficient Processes: Check-in, security, and immigration are generally described as smooth and efficient, with modest queue times. Staff are often highlighted as friendly and professional.
Good Facilities & Amenities (Landside): The airport offers a good variety of shops and restaurants (especially landside), free Wi-Fi, information desks, baggage wrapping, medical services, prayer rooms, ATMs, and currency exchange.
Organized Parking: Parking facilities are well-organized and conveniently located close to the terminal, with options including multi-storey, shaded parking, and meet-and-greet services. A new arrivals pick-up parking facility offers a 20-minute free dwell time.

Common Complaints

Limited International Departures Lounge Facilities: Some travelers note a lack of variety in restaurants and shops in the international departures lounge after immigration, with limited facilities near the gates.
Public Transport Limitations: The airport lacks established public transport links, which is seen as a limiting factor by some. The airport is also considered a bit far from the city center.
Isolated Security Incidents: There have been isolated reports of jewellery or items being taken from handbags during security screening.
Slow Wi-Fi (for some): While Wi-Fi is available, some reviews mention it can be slow.

Overall, King Shaka International Airport stands out as a top-tier regional airport in Africa, offering a positive and efficient travel experience for most passengers. While improvements in international airside amenities and public transport links could enhance the experience further, its modern infrastructure and high service standards contribute to strong traveler satisfaction.

Generated False weeks ago

This summary is automatically generated by AI based on web research of traveler reviews and experiences. AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate.

Current Weather Conditions

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Airport Routes

Top Routes (by observations)

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Popular Flight Routes

Building Route Index: We are building our route index for commercial airports. Currently 23 routes are indexed for King Shaka International Airport. For real-time updates, admin access is required.

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Top Airlines

Operating at King Shaka International Airport

Airlines by Flight Activity

Based on observed flight operations and route network

Airline	Routes	Flights	Destinations	Last Activity
Safair `SFR` / `FA`	5	361	5	Dec 10, 2025
Global Aviation `GBB` / `GE`	2	94	2	Dec 10, 2025
South African Airlink `LNK` / `4Z`	4	66	4	Dec 10, 2025
South African Airways `SAA` / `SA`	1	63	1	Dec 10, 2025
CemAir `KEM` / `5Z`	4	41	4	Dec 10, 2025
SunExpress `SXS` / `XQ`	1	9	1	Dec 8, 2025
Emirates `UAE` / `EK`	1	4	1	Dec 4, 2025
Qatar Airways `QTR` / `QR`	1	4	1	Dec 7, 2025
Eswatini Air `SZL` / `RN`	1	4	1	Oct 24, 2025
Turkish Airlines `THY` / `TK`	1	4	1	Oct 24, 2025

Showing top 10 airlines by flight activity. Data includes observed departures and route networks from this airport.

For Pilots

Designation	Length	Width	Surface	Status
`06/24`	12139 ft	197 ft	Asphalt	Active

Type	Description	Frequency
DURBAN Approach	-	`125.75 MHz`
KING SHAKA ATIS	-	`127.0 MHz`
KING SHAKA INT.	KING SHAKA INT. Tower	`118.45 MHz`
KING SHAKA INT.	-	`121.65 MHz`
VOT TGV	-	`115.6 MHz`

Ident	Name	Type	Frequency

Ground Transportation

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025

Taxis

Official, metered airport taxis are available 24/7 from the taxi rank located directly outside the arrivals terminal. Ride-hailing services like Uber and Bolt also operate from the airport, with designated pick-up zones. For safety, it is recommended to only use official taxis or reputable app-based services.

Rental Cars

Major car rental companies, including Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Budget, and Sixt, have service desks inside the arrivals terminal. Vehicles can be collected from and returned to the dedicated rental car parkade, which is a short walk from the terminal. Pre-booking is highly recommended, especially during peak seasons.

Public Transportation

Public transport is primarily limited to private shuttle bus services. Several companies offer pre-booked transfers to major hotels and key destinations in Durban, Umhlanga, and the surrounding coastal areas. There is no direct public city bus or train service connecting the airport to the city center.

Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.