International airlines may soon be attracted back to Durban, according to the boss of the Dube Tradeport, as a direct result of the country’s participation in hosting global events.

In an interview on Business Report, Rohan Persad, chief executive of Dube Tradeport, said the company is hoping to secure five global flights in the first five years of the tradeport and the King Shaka airport.

The regions currently being targeted are the Middle East, Europe, the UK, Asia and India.
The United Arab Emirates has already signed up with a direct flight from Dubai to Durban.

Dube Tradeport was established in 2003 to manage developments linked to the new King Shaka International Airport.

Persad said the firm was already in talks with other airlines, adding that interest was picking up as construction neared completion.

"The market is small but new. We need tourism to identify important markets. We already have good relations with Nigeria, Namibia, Egypt and Morocco, and we'll use that to get more out of Africa," added Persad.