The spacious and attractive Durban King Shaka International Airport, known also as La Mercy Airport, was built in preparation for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Replacing the cramped Durban International Airport, the facility is large and modern, with state-of-the-art facilities that rival higher-traffic destinations Cape Town and Johannesburg for convenience. Named for the famous Zulu king of the 19th century, the architecture of the airport contains hints at the region’s culture, and eagle-eyed passengers will find many traditional Zulu shields.
Handling a little more than half of its 7.5 million passenger capacity, the airport rarely feels crowded. This is partly due to the limited number of destinations available on direct flights to Durban King Shaka Airport. Air traffic is primarily focused on local flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, George and East London. Most international flights to Durban International Airport connect via Johannesburg, but there are flights available to Mauritius, Maputo and Dubai.
The main annoyance of the airport is not the service or facilities, but its remote location 22 miles (35km) north of Durban. The current total lack of public transport options make getting into town an expensive prospect if you don’t have someone to pick you up.
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<div class="rxbodyfield">There is only one passenger terminal in the airport, divided into two levels.</div>
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Train: There are no train or subway services to the airport at this time. A rail connection to the North Coast line is expected to be built in the next several years, although no completion date has been announced.
Bus: There are no public or private bus services to King Shaka Airport.
Taxi: Official taxi and shuttle services are available to and from the airport, including Lighthouse Cabs, mGazi Tours, Akkers Shuttles and King Shaka Airport Shuttle Services. Typical metered rates into downtown Durban are ZAR 400 and ZAR 250 to Umhlanga, though you may negotiate a flat fare if you wish. Cabs accept cash (South African Rands) only, and a tip of 10 percent is appreciated.
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There is a designated pick-up area apart from the parking structures as well as several parking options. The multilevel car park offers 15 minutes free, and then charges ZAR 6 for half an hour, ZAR 10 for an hour, ZAR 20 for two hours, ZAR 25 for three hours, and ZAR 30 for four hours with a daily limit of ZAR160. There is also a shaded car park that is cheaper if you stay more than an hour, charging ZAR 15 for two hours, ZAR 20 for three hours, ZAR 25 for four hours, and ZAR 35 for up to six hours with a daily limit of ZAR 75.
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Money and communications: There are several banks (ABSA, Nedbank and Standard Bank), ATMs, currency exchange and a post office in the terminal building.
Luggage: There are porter services available. Lost luggage queries are handled by individual airlines.
Conference and business: The BIDAir Premium Lounge on the third level has phones, TVs, food and beverages, and newspapers.
Shopping: Shopping options are primarily limited to utilitarian and souvenir shops, but there are a few department and branded stores, including Jeep, Nike, Quicksilver, NWJ Jewelers, Sunglasses Hut, and Woolworths.
Food and drink: If you’re hungry at the airport, there are a number of options to choose from, though don’t expect fine dining or non-franchise options. There are fast food and restaurants on both sides of security, including KFC, Wimpy, Milky Lane, Newscafe, Spur, Mugg & Bean, Cape Town Fish Market, Fego, Rhapsody’s, and several candy shops.
Other facilities: Facilities at the airport are basic, but there are restrooms, public phones, handicapped facilities, and a number of shops, bars and restaurants. VIP lounge facilities include TVs and shower facilities for a fee of ZAR 150 for domestic travelers and ZAR 250 for international passengers.
Wi-Fi: There is Wi-Fi available in the terminal building. MWEB users are allowed five hours per month, while others can pay by credit card when they log in.
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You can get flights to Durban King Shaka on local budget carriers like Kulula, Mango, 1Time, and Velvet Sky. There are also national and international flights available on Air Mauritius, Airlink, British Airways, Emirates, and South African Airways.
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