TOURISM into markets where airlines establish direct flights historically experience a 30-40 per cent growth within the first year of the route’s establishment. This, according to research released by Dube TradePort (DTP).

The news comes as Durban welcomed three weekly direct British Airways (BA) flights into King Shaka International Airport from October with the city making its inaugural appearance on the airline’s Top 19 Must-See Destinations for 2019.

BA announced in May that it would include Durban on its direct service as the airline rolled out a ₤4.5 billion five-year customer investment plan.  The service will complement Durban’s growing connectivity to global hub airports and the route will be serviced by the airline’s newest aircraft, the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.

Read also: SA Express introduces flights to Mthatha

Currently, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air Mauritius, Pro-flight Zambia and Airlink all provide direct international air connectivity to and from King Shaka International Airport.

Earlier this year KwaZulu-Natal economic development, tourism and environmental  affairs MEC Sihle Zikalala said international cargo routed through the Dube Cargo Terminal had experienced continuous year-on-year growth since 2010, translating into a 138 per cent hike in volumes.

Introducing new passenger flights previously has shown a 25 per cent hike in cargo volumes, and it is expected that the introduction of the direct BA flight will provide additional bi-directional capacity of approximately 20 tons per flight, into the key markets for cargo into and out of KZN.

You may be interested in: SAA incurs more losses

For more from Northglen News follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also follow us on Instagram