The KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Devleopment, Tourism and Environmnental Affairs, Mr Sihle Zikalala, has described the announcement of the King Shaka International Airport as Africa’s best regional airport and the world’s third best regional airport as yet another feather in KwaZulu-Natal’s cap.

The King Shaka International Airport was selected for the honours at the Skytrax World Airport Awards which took place in the Swedish capital of Stockholm this week. The awards surveyed the views of travellers in more than 550 airports worldwide on their airport experiences. For the world’s third best regional airport award, King Shaka International is ahead of airports such as the London City Airport and Denver Airport in the United States.

MEC Zikalala said the award bore testament to the province’s efforts of positioning the King Shaka International airport as a trade and tourism gateway to South Africa and the continent.

“We are extremely pleased to have been recognized as the best regional airport and the third best regional airport respectively at the Skytrax World Airport Awards. Coincidentally, the awards come at a time when we have just witnessed a marked increase in annual passenger throughput at King Shaka International  Airport. The Airport registered an overall increase of passengers of 6.4% in 2017, the highest among all South African Airports,” Zikalala said.

He said the Awards boded well for the province’s Routes Development Committee which was tasked with attracting more international flights into KwaZulu-Natal.

“The Skytrax Awards will doubtless further improve King Shaka’s attractiveness to major airline operators and, more importantly, also market the province as a favourable destination among both international tourists and investors alike,” Zikalala said.

 

Issued by KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs