Business

New international flights for South Africa

Caitlyn Hilliard-Lomas

 ·16 Sep 2026

Ethiopian Airlines has launched new daily non-stop flights between Durban and Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa.

This new route will commence its daily service from 11 December 2026, operating a B737 Max, and bookings are now open.

Durban Direct said the introduction of the new non-stop air service between Durban and Addis Ababa represents a landmark achievement, further strengthening Durban’s international connectivity. 

Durban Direct is a committee that supports airlines in establishing direct air services to Durban’s King Shaka International Airport.

The committee comprises various entities and government departments that promote tourism, economic development, and transportation, including airport authorities.

It is led by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs.

King Shaka International Airport operates eight other international flight routes, which include flights to Mauritius, Namibia, Mozambique, London, Dubai, Zambia, Doha and Turkey.

With this new flight route launching later this year, the total number of international flight routes from Durban will reach nine.

Many South Africans residing in Durban and other cities fly to larger local airports to catch major international flights, such as OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg or Cape Town International Airport.

Durban Direct said the new route will provide direct access from Durban to Addis Ababa, one of Africa’s most popular aviation hubs.

The group said this will connect Durban to a larger global network covering Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and North America. 

This development represents a significant step forward in enhancing global accessibility and opening new opportunities for business growth and tourism expansion for Durban and KwaZulu-Natal.

“The launch of the Durban-Addis Ababa route marks a major milestone for KwaZulu-Natal and reinforces our position as a key gateway into Africa,” said KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs Musa Zondi.

“Air connectivity is a critical enabler of economic growth, and this new service creates significant opportunities for tourism, air freight, and investment,” said Zondi.

Zondi said that through Addis Ababa’s extensive route network, Durban and the whole KwaZulu-Natal province will be more connected to global markets.

“This development demonstrates the value of sustained collaboration between public and private sector partners in advancing KwaZulu-Natal’s growth agenda.”

Travellers from Durban will now have access to a wide range of destinations through Addis Ababa. 

This includes major cities across Africa and major global destinations such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, Mumbai, Delhi, and Washington.

Durban Direct said that this enhanced connectivity will make Durban more accessible to international visitors and business travellers, while providing locals and businesses with greater flexibility and convenience when travelling abroad.

“The introduction of the Durban-Addis Ababa service reflects the continued success of Durban Direct’s route development strategy and collaborative efforts with aviation, tourism and government stakeholders to improve air access to the region,” said Durban Direct Co-Chair Hamish Erskine.

Erskine said that improved air connectivity remains one of the most important enablers of tourism growth. 

The new route is anticipated to boost visitor arrivals from Ethiopia and other African countries, as well as long-haul international markets connected through Ethiopian Airlines’ network. 

Durban’s King Shaka International Airport flight routes