18
DURBAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Durban International Airport is situated 15 kilometres to the south of the city centre, caters for international, regional, domestic, and charter flights. There are not many intercontinental flights direct to or from Durban, however, most come or go via Johannesburg or Cape Town. The airport supports a number of international airlines, including South African Airways, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air Mauritius, Air Zimbabwe, and Swazi Express. There are also frequent domestic connections linking most cities in South Africa with South African Airways, British Airway/Comair, and South African Airlink. Airport code: DUR 2 (terminals combined in one building). Telephone: (0)31 451 6666. (The new King Shaka Airport will come into operation May 2010) Tourist Info Kiosk A tourism information office, operated jointly by the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Authority, Tourism Durban, is located in the arrivals terminal. It offers visitors up-to-minute information on events, attractions, and services in the province. It also offers a fax-on-demand, Internet facilities, and instant access to accommodation, sightseeing tours, and the like. The office is open from 8am (9am on Sundays) to 9pm seven days a week. Facilities There are foreign exchange bureau in international arrivals and departures, a retail bank, and automated teller machines (ATMs) in arrivals. The airport also hosts a range of restaurants, bars, and duty-free shops. Transport Coach and shuttle services operate at regular intervals between the airport, the city, and the beachfront hotels. Taxis also run between the airport and the city centre. The departure point for all of these is in front of the departures terminal.
Visas Entry permits are issued free on arrival to visitors on holiday from many Commonwealth and most Western European countries, as well as Japan and the USA. If you aren't entitled to an entry permit, you'll need to get a visa (also free) before you arrive
KING SHAKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT King Shaka International, just north of Durban on the eastern seaboard, is South Africa’s newest airport, and it's all geared to be ready & waiting for the FIFA™ 2010 World Cup. It will replace Durban International Airport.
Much bigger than Durban International King Shaka International is supposedly three times bigger than Durban International and will be able to handle 8 million passengers a year when it opens (Durban International currently can only handle 4.7 million passengers annually). It's being built at a cost of ZAR 7.4 billion and is the first “Greenfield” airport in South Africa.