KSIA KEY DRIVER OF KZN ECONOMY

Business Sense
6 days ago
3 min read

King Shaka International Airport marks 16 years as a key driver of KwaZulu Natal’s Economic Growth, Tourism, and Trade Connectivity ACSA’s 21.7 billion infrastructure programme, rising international connectivity, and sustained tourism growth position the airport at the centre of KwaZulu-Natal’s economic expansion.

King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) marks its 16th anniversary on the 01 May 2026, as a critical driver of economic activity in KwaZulu-Natal, supported by the infrastructure investment programme and a tourism sector that generated R9.6 billion in GDP during the most recent festive season.

As South Africa’s third busiest airport after O. R. Tambo International Airport and Cape Town International Airport, KSIA serves as the province’s primary international gateway, supporting a regional economy of more than 12 million people.

The airport performance over the period FY2019/20 to FY2025/26 reflects a strong recovery trajectory following the significant disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In FY2019/20, the airport recorded its pre-pandemic baseline of approximately 6.1 million passengers (100%) and 50,753 aircraft movements (ATMs), representing normal operational conditions.

A sharp decline was experienced in FY2020/21, with passenger numbers dropping to 1.5 million (25%) and ATMs decreasing to 14,650 (29%), reflecting the impact of global travel restrictions. From FY2021/22, recovery began steadily, with passenger volumes increasing to 3.2 million (53%) and ATMs recovering to 59%.

The upward trend continued into FY2022/23 and FY2024/25, where passenger volumes reached 4.99 million (82%) and 5.04 million (83%) respectively, while ATMs improved to over 81% of pre-COVID levels. Although FY2023/24 showed a slight moderation, overall recovery momentum remained positive and stable.

For FY2025/26, performance continued to recover strongly, reaching 5.6 million passengers, representing a 92% recovery compared to pre-COVID levels. Aircraft Traffic Movements (ATMs) reached 40,935, reflecting an 89% recovery against the 2019/20 baseline.

This recovery is not cyclical as it reflects a structural shift in how KwaZulu-Natal connects to global markets. Through the Kwa-Zulu Natal Route Development Committee, Durban Direct, tremendous strides have been made to date to drive sustainability and stability in the market to ensure that air travel remains accessible, for the benefit of all our stakeholders.

The economic effect of this connectivity is visible in tourism performance. KwaZulu-Natal recorded more than 1.2 million visitors during the 2025/26 festive season, a 19% year-on-year increase and supported more than 14 000 jobs. KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Film Authority data further shows that 194,00 international tourists visited KwaZulu-Natal in the first quarter of 2025, contributing R1.5 billion in foreign spend, while domestic travel generated a further R6.1 billion in economic activity.

As we grow, and evolve, KSIA is embarking on an investment programme which includes the upgrade of existing facilities and infrastructure, new airport facilities and compliance related projects. This underscores ACSA’s commitment to enhancing service delivery for our stakeholders and passengers.

“King Shaka International Airport is a critical asset of the regional economic activity in the province, supporting not only tourism growth and global connectivity but strengthening trade flows,” said Nkosinathi Myataza, Regional General Manager at King Shaka International Airport. Its evolution over the past 16 years is a testament to sustained investment and to the conviction that an airports measure is not only the number of passengers it handles but the breadth of opportunity it creates for the communities it serves.”

The conviction is visible in the airports contribution to regional development reinforced through targeted socio-economic programmes focused on skills development, enterprise support and food security projects in surrounding communities, including agricultural training initiatives in Verulam and early childhood development training in Ndwedwe.

Beyond passenger traffic, KSIA operational performance has also been consistently recognised globally. KSIA has recently been recognised in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2026, ranking - 4th place Best Airport in Africa, 2nd place Best Regional Airport, and placed 10th in the 5-10 million passenger category. In addition, the airport earned the 2025 ASQ Customer Experience Award for Best Airports: Most enjoyable in Africa. These accolades reinforce its position as one of the continent’s most consistently recognised airports for service excellence.

As we look ahead, our focus is on aligning capacity with demand and ensuring that infrastructure investment translates into sustained economic value added Myataza. KSIA is positioned not only to support growth, but to shape it through stronger connectivity, continued operational excellence and deeper regional integration.