King Shaka Airport helps generate growth

The new King Shaka
International Airport at
La Mercy has generated
massive growth in the
KwaZulu-Natal airfreight
market, allowing companies
to grow their Durban-based
operations.
Willie De Lange, Intraspeed
director for KwaZulu-
Natal, says the R7.9 billion
government investment,
South Africa’s second-largest
transport infrastructural project
after the Gautrain rapid rail
link, has made a major impact
on business.
“The longer runway is
capable of accommodating the
world’s largest aircraft and the
number of direct scheduled
flights by international carriers
to this airport is continuing
to increase,” says De Lange.
“A major feature of the new
King Shaka International
airport is that it was built as
an integrated passenger and
freight airport alongside the
new Dube Tradeport, which
incorporates a 36-hectare trade
zone featuring a 15 800 sqm
cargo terminal, perishables
centre, warehousing and
further manufacturing
facilities. The fully mechanised
and automated cargo terminal
– only the second of its kind in
Africa – offers state-of-the-art
airfreight handling facilities,
which Intraspeed is ready to
take full advantage of.”
The company has already
drawn up expansion plans for
its operation in KZN, said De
Lange. “Durban is still a lifeline
for the SADC region, and
having our own operations in
countries such as Swaziland and
Zimbabwe provides significant
opportunities that we continue
to capitalise on. Richards Bay
is also integral to our operation,
moving large capital equipment
from the Far and Middle East
into southern African regions.
Growing our KZN operation is
therefore a priority.”