The province’s plans to lure international airlines to the King Shaka International Airport has been dealt a blow with Air Mauritius’s announcement of plans to discontinue its direct route to Durban.
The airline, one of only three to fly internationally out of Durban’s King Shaka, has decided to close its Durban route from October after a record loss was reported for the last financial quarter – a loss of R2.8 million – compared with a profit of R12.6m last year.
As part of the airline’s cost-saving plan, direct flights from Mauritius to Milan, Sydney and Melbourne will be cancelled from June, while flights to and from Geneva, Frankfurt, Bangalore, Munich, and Durban will be discontinued in October.
“Having reviewed Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, it is far more lucrative to focus on the economic powerhouse of South Africa – Gauteng – for future growth prospects,” said Air Mauritius regional manager Carla da Silva.
For those who have already booked their direct flights to Mauritius after October, the airline has promised to re-book alternative flights at no extra cost.
She said the airline would launch a second daily flight from Johannesburg, which would provide additional capacity during the peak-season.
But with Air Mauritius pulling out of King Shaka International Airport, only two international airlines remain – Emirates, which offers a direct flight to Dubai, and Air Mozambique, offering direct flights to Maputo.
Air Mauritius’s decision will concern Premier Dr Zweli Mkhize, who said in his State of the Province address last week that he wanted to increase the number of international tourists to the province and that meetings would be held with the national government to discuss a strategy to promote direct landing at King Shaka.
Ndabezinhle Sibiya, spokesman for the Premier’s office, said Mkhize was disappointed by the news, but the province would continue to look for ways to stimulate the tourism industry and to push for international events in Durban.
“Through these kinds of events, we are able to market Durban as a destination of leisure and business and also for foreign investment,” he said.
Tourism companies have expressed concern with the airline’s decision.
“Durban passengers are losing the convenience of a direct service to Mauritius,” said Margaret Park, product manager of Holiday Tours.
Beachcomber Tours managing director, Terry Munro, said the company would assist those who had already made bookings, and suggested that more direct flights between Mauritius and Cape Town would be advantageous. - Daily News