Durban to gain daily direct Ethiopian Airlines link to Addis Ababa - IOL

King Shaka International Airport, from where new daily Ethiopian Airlines flights will link Durban with Addis Ababa.

Durban is set to strengthen its international air connections with the launch of a new daily direct Ethiopian Airlines service between King Shaka International Airport and Addis Ababa from December.

The new route, which is scheduled to begin on December 11, will connect Durban directly with Ethiopian Airlines’ main hub in Ethiopia, opening access to more than 130 destinations across Africa and international markets.

The service will operate daily on a Boeing 737 MAX, with bookings now open.

For passengers travelling between KwaZulu-Natal and destinations in East Africa, the new route will remove the need for an additional domestic connection through Johannesburg or Cape Town.

Through Addis Ababa, travellers will be able to connect onward to destinations across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America, including London, Paris, Frankfurt, Mumbai, Delhi and Washington.

The eThekwini Municipality has welcomed the move, describing the new route as an important development for Durban’s tourism and business sectors.

eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba said stronger direct international connections could help attract foreign investment, support tourism and make the city more accessible to international business travellers and exporters.

“Restoring and expanding direct global air links is essential for driving foreign direct investment, expanding local tourism, and positioning Durban as an accessible commercial capital,” Xaba said.

City Manager Musa Mbhele said the daily service would also support the region’s trade ambitions by improving access to international markets and strengthening passenger and cargo connections through King Shaka International Airport.

The municipality said the route was the result of ongoing efforts to expand direct international access to eThekwini and could contribute to increased visitor arrivals and trade links.

The launch also gives KwaZulu-Natal travellers a new gateway into Ethiopian Airlines’ wider international network, with Addis Ababa serving as the connecting point for onward journeys beyond Africa.

The first flight is expected to operate on December 11, marking a new direct link between Durban and one of Africa’s major aviation hubs.