KING Shaka International Airport will soon welcome direct flights between Durban and Addis Ababa (Ethiopia).

Ethiopian Airlines will commence the daily service from December 11 (2026), operated on a B737 Max and offering another international destination for travellers to explore while strengthening Durban’s international connectivity.

Currently the airport operates various international flight routes, including Dubai, Doha, London, Türkiye and Mauritius.

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The move has been welcomed by Rev. Musa Zondi, KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.

“The launch of the Durban-Addis Ababa route marks a major milestone for KwaZulu-Natal and reinforces our position as a key gateway into Africa. Air connectivity is a critical enabler of economic growth, and this new service creates significant opportunities for tourism, airfreight and investment.

“Through Addis Ababa’s extensive route network, Durban and the province in general will be more connected to global markets than ever before. This development demonstrates the value of sustained collaboration between public and private sector partners in advancing KwaZulu-Natal’s growth agenda,” he said.

Durban Direct, a committee responsible for route development at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport in KZN, also welcomed the news.

“The introduction of the Durban-Addis Ababa service reflects the continued success of Durban Direct’s route development strategy and collaborative efforts with aviation, tourism and government stakeholders to improve air access to the region,” explained Hamish Erskine, co-chair of Durban Direct.

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