King Shaka International Airport (DUR)
Durban, ZA 🇿🇦 Large International Airport Scheduled Service Big Airport
ICAO
FALE
IATA
DUR
Elevation
295 ft
Region
ZA-NL
Local Time
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GPS Code: FALE
Local Code: Not available
Location: -29.614444° N, 31.119722° E
Continent: Africa
Type: Large International Airport
Keywords: La Mercy Airport
What Travelers Say
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Online Reviews Summary
King Shaka International Airport (DUR) generally receives positive traveler reviews, with many praising its modern design, cleanliness, and efficient operations. While most travelers report a smooth experience, some common complaints revolve around specific amenities and occasional operational issues.
What Travelers Love
- Overall Efficiency and Design: The airport is often described as well-run, with a spacious, clean, and easy-to-navigate layout and clear signage. It was constructed for the 2010 World Cup and is recognized for its modern and functional architectural design.
- Terminal Facilities & Cleanliness: Travelers consistently highlight the airport's impeccable cleanliness, including well-kept restrooms and common areas. It offers a good variety of shops, restaurants, and lounges, making waiting times more comfortable. The airport is accessible for people with disabilities and has prayer rooms.
- Staff and Service: Staff are frequently noted as friendly, professional, and helpful.
- Security and Immigration: Security and check-in processes are generally efficient with modest queue times, and outbound immigration proceeds quickly.
- Parking and Car Rental: Parking is well-organized and conveniently located close to the terminal. Car rental services, including a dedicated collection and drop-off area, are available.
Common Complaints
- Limited Amenities Post-Security (International): The international departure lounge has limited dining and retail choices, with only two restaurants and one duty-free shop noted by some travelers, and few facilities near the gates.
- Lack of Water Refill Stations: Some travelers express disappointment over the absence of water refill stations.
- Public Transport Links: While car rental and shuttle services are good, established public transport links are noted as limiting. Shuttle services like Southern Shuttle, VIKELAZ, and East Coast Shuttle Services are available but are often private or pre-booked.
- Immigration Delays (Biometric System): In August 2024, delays in processing passengers at immigration were reported due to "post-implementation challenges" with a new biometric control system, causing long queues.
- Confusing Parking & Unresponsive Assistance: Recent complaints (March 2026) mention confusing parking systems that can lead to unfair charges if one enters the wrong area, and help call centers taking several minutes to answer.
- Flight Delays (Air Traffic Control): In September 2025, passengers experienced frustrating delays due to Air Traffic and Navigation Services (ATNS) constraints affecting flight schedules.
Overall, King Shaka International Airport is generally regarded as a pleasant and efficient airport for travelers, particularly for its modern infrastructure and cleanliness. While security and check-in are typically smooth, recent technical issues with immigration systems and a perceived lack of certain amenities, particularly post-security for international flights, have been noted as areas for improvement.
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Airport Routes
King Shaka International Airport (DUR) offers 24 flight routes operated by 10 airlines. Major carriers include Safair, Global Aviation, South African Airways and others. Popular destinations from Durban include OR Tambo Int'l, Cape Town Int'l, Port Elizabeth, Kruger Mpumalanga Int'l and Lanseria.
Route Network Map
Top Routes (by observations)
- OR Tambo Int'l (JNB) 8
- Cape Town Int'l (CPT) 4
- Port Elizabeth (PLZ) 2
- Kruger Mpumalanga Int'l (MQP) 1
- Lanseria (HLA) 1
- Sir Seretse Khama Int'l (GBE) 1
- King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) 1
- Maputo Int'l (MPM) 1
- Harare International (HRE) 1
- Bloemfontein (BFN) 1
- Dubai Int'l (DXB) 1
- East London (ELS) 1
Newly Discovered
- OR Tambo Int'l (JNB) new
- Bloemfontein (BFN) new
- Harare International (HRE) new
- East London (ELS) new
- Cape Town Int'l (CPT) new
- Kruger Mpumalanga Int'l (MQP) new
- Lanseria (HLA) new
- Dubai Int'l (DXB) new
- Maputo Int'l (MPM) new
- Port Elizabeth (PLZ) new
- King Mswati III International Airport (SHO) new
- George (GRJ) new
Popular Flight Routes
| Destination | IATA | City | Aircraft Type | Airline | Details | Route Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OR Tambo Int'l | JNB |
Johannesburg | B738 | Safair | 445 flights · 297 mi | |
| OR Tambo Int'l | JNB |
Johannesburg | A320 | South African Airways | 163 flights · 297 mi | |
| Cape Town Int'l | CPT |
Cape Town | B738 | Safair | 158 flights · 794 mi | |
| Lanseria | HLA |
Lanseria | B738 | Safair | 122 flights · 320 mi | |
| OR Tambo Int'l | JNB |
Johannesburg | B734 | Global Aviation | 108 flights · 297 mi | |
| Cape Town Int'l | CPT |
Cape Town | B733 | Global Aviation | 64 flights · 794 mi | |
| OR Tambo Int'l | JNB |
Johannesburg | E190 | South African Airlink | 60 flights · 297 mi | |
| Port Elizabeth | PLZ |
Port Elizabeth | E135 | South African Airlink | 52 flights · 442 mi | |
| Cape Town Int'l | CPT |
Cape Town | CL60 | CemAir | 51 flights · 794 mi | |
| OR Tambo Int'l | JNB |
Johannesburg | B738 | SunExpress | 30 flights · 297 mi | |
| Port Elizabeth | PLZ |
Port Elizabeth | B738 | Safair | 27 flights · 442 mi | |
| OR Tambo Int'l | JNB |
Johannesburg | CRJ2 | CemAir | 25 flights · 297 mi | |
| Kruger Mpumalanga Int'l | MQP |
Nelspruit (Kruger National Park) | E135 | South African Airlink | 21 flights · 293 mi | |
| Bloemfontein | BFN |
Bloemfontein | B190 | CemAir | 16 flights · 292 mi | |
| Harare International | HRE |
Harare | E135 | South African Airlink | 14 flights · 808 mi | |
| East London | ELS |
East London | B738 | Safair | 14 flights · 306 mi | |
| Maputo Int'l | MPM |
Maputo | B788 | Qatar Airways | 10 flights · 271 mi | |
| Dubai Int'l | DXB |
Dubai | B77W | Emirates | 7 flights · 4123 mi | |
| George | GRJ |
George | CRJ2 | CemAir | 7 flights · 596 mi | |
| OR Tambo Int'l | JNB |
Johannesburg | A359 | Turkish Airlines | 6 flights · 297 mi | |
| King Mswati III International Airport | SHO |
Sokcho | E145 | Eswatini Air | 5 flights · 229 mi | |
| Sir Seretse Khama Int'l | GBE |
Gaborone | AT72 | Air Botswana | 3 flights · 474 mi | |
| OR Tambo Int'l | JNB |
Johannesburg | B737 | TAAG Angola Airlines | 2 flights · 297 mi | |
| Cape Town Int'l | CPT |
Cape Town | E145 | SZL | 2 flights · 794 mi |
Top Airlines
Operating at King Shaka International AirportAirlines by Flight Activity
Based on observed flight operations and route network| Airline | Routes | Flights | Destinations | Last Activity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Safair
SFR
/ FA
|
5 | 766 | 5 | Jun 1, 2026 |
|
Global Aviation
GBB
/ GE
|
2 | 172 | 2 | Jun 1, 2026 |
South African Airways
SAA
/ SA
|
1 | 163 | 1 | Jun 1, 2026 |
South African Airlink
LNK
/ 4Z
|
4 | 147 | 4 | Jun 1, 2026 |
CemAir
KEM
/ 5Z
|
4 | 99 | 4 | Jun 1, 2026 |
SunExpress
SXS
/ XQ
|
1 | 30 | 1 | Mar 30, 2026 |
Qatar Airways
QTR
/ QR
|
1 | 10 | 1 | May 29, 2026 |
Emirates
UAE
/ EK
|
1 | 7 | 1 | May 29, 2026 |
|
Eswatini Air
SZL
/ RN
|
2 | 7 | 2 | May 29, 2026 |
Turkish Airlines
THY
/ TK
|
1 | 6 | 1 | May 29, 2026 |
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 |
Ground Transportation
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.
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