New route: Eswatini Air touches down in Durban

The national airline of Eswatini has launched scheduled flights to its second destination in the Republic of South Africa.

By: Lorne Philpot

ESWATINI AIR LAUNCHES NEW ROUTE

Eswatini Air’s inaugural flight from Manzini to KwaZulu-Natal touched down at Durban’s King Shaka International Airport on 5 May.

The flight arrived to a warm welcome by KwaZulu-Natal MEC for economic development, tourism and environmental affairs, Siboniso Duma, as well as the customary water cannon salute afforded to new airlines.

The 50-seater aircraft with dignitaries on board landed on Friday, inaugurating the start of Eswatini Air’s operations to KwaZulu-Natal.

EXPANSION INTO SOUTH AFRICA

The recently launched Eswatini Air is the national airline of neighbouring Eswatini (Swaziland). The airline took to the skies in March this year, with its first destination being Johannesburg.

ALSO READ: Touch down: First Eswatini Air flight lands in Johannesburg

The airline started up flights between Manzini and Johannesburg on 26 March, offering convenient direct air services for the many business travellers needing to travel between Johannesburg and Eswatini.

There are plans for Eswatini Air to launch scheduled services to Cape Town from 2 June. The airline already operates flights to Harare in Zimbabwe. These commenced on 14 April.

ALSO READ: South African Airways set for fleet and route expansion

ESWATINI’S NEW FLIGHTS

Eswatini Air will operate flights between Durban and Manzini three times a week.

The airline’s CFO, Amos Mkhwatsha, said that the Durban route would build on the success of the Johannesburg route that was launched in March.

“The numbers have been promising in Joburg as it’s quite a busy route. We hope this would be replicated here,” he said, per Timeslive.

HOTSPOT FOR TOURISM

Demand for flights between Johannesburg and Eswatini is driven mainly by business travellers on the Johannesburg route.

The new flights between Manzini and Durban are geared towards tourism.  Durban is a preferred destination for many people in Eswatini.

“During the festive season you would be amazed at the Swazi tourists who flock to Durban. There are also families scattered between the two and cultural commonalities as well, ” Mkhatshwa said.

Flying to Eswatini is preferred by many travellers since journeys by road into Eswatini are often unsafe.  Poor road conditions and traffic accidents make flying to Eswatini a safer and more convenient option for many travellers between South Africa and the Swazi Kingdom.

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