Last Friday saw the official launch by Eswatini Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Eswatini, of its new route between King Mswati III International Airport in Manzini, Eswatini, and King Shaka International Airport in Durban.
The route will be operated by an Embraer ERJ 145 aircraft, and initially, three flights per week will be available on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The airline plans to increase frequencies to seven times a week from June, based on demand.
Siboniso Duma, the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, and the leader of Government Business in KwaZulu-Natal, believes the route will not only enhance the tourism potential between the two destinations but also strengthen trade relations.
According to the World Bank, over 60% of exports from Eswatini come to South Africa, and over 80% of Eswatini's imports come from South Africa.