Durban to Réunion Island: new flight route set to boost tourism and connectivity

In a bid to restore Durban’s status as a premier international destination through enhanced air connectivity, Global Airways, in collaboration with Fly Vetiv’Air and Durban Direct, unveiled plans to establish direct flights between Durban and Réunion Island.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy to boost tourism and trade in both regions. 

Durban Direct is a committee dedicated to route development at King Shaka International Airport in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Global Airways is a well-established aircraft leasing (ACMI) and charter company, recognised for its operations supporting airlines such as LIFT.

The new flights are set to commence on February 26, 2026, with Global Airways and Fly Vetiv’Air working together on this route.

There is potential for future expansion to include flights to Mauritius, further enhancing the region's connectivity.

Dr Nkosenye Zulu, head of department for the KwaZulu-Natal Department for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, expressed optimism about the new route.

“Every new international connection brings increased tourist arrivals and new opportunities for exporters, especially given the air cargo facility operated by Dube TradePort at King Shaka International Airport. It also creates business-to-business linkages in aviation, hospitality, logistics, and beyond," he stated. 

Zulu further added that they are confident that this new route will stimulate two-way flows of tourism traffic, strengthen trade in goods and services, and support investment opportunities between the regions, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, green energy, and the creative industries.

Philisiwe Ndlovu, deputy chairperson of the Economic Development Cluster at eThekwini Municipality, echoed this sentiment, declaring the launching of flights to Saint-Pierre, Pierrefonds Airport in Réunion Island, a monumental achievement for aviation and tourism in Durban and broader KwaZulu-Natal.

“This route will unlock easier travel for both business and leisure, supporting our city’s strategic positioning as a resilient, sustainable gateway into Africa,” she explained.

Hamish Erskine, CEO of Dube TradePort and co-chair of Durban Direct, remarked on the exciting prospects this new route presents for the province.

He noted the anticipated reopening of a direct route from Durban to Mauritius, which has been highly awaited by the KZN market for the past five years.

Cilliers Jordaan, chief commercial officer of LIFT, emphasised the flexibility and agility of Global Airways across various aviation sectors.

“While this is currently an endeavour of Global Airways, any future involvement of LIFT will be communicated. LIFT is enthusiastic about the long-term potential of regional routes and how markets like Mauritius and Réunion could eventually be integrated into the LIFT network, in line with our regional growth strategy," he said. 

As the festive season continues, LIFT has geared up for one of its busiest periods yet, driven by rising domestic demand, strong early bookings, and positive forecasts from leading tourism organisations in both the Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

With December projected to be one of the highest demand periods of the year, LIFT has added two additional aircraft to its fleet from November to accommodate peak travel on the Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban routes, collectively known as the Golden Triangle.

Jordaan observed early signs of confidence from South African travellers, stating that across all three regions in the Golden Triangle, early bookings have already been shaping the season.

"Travellers are locking in holiday plans sooner, with many wanting to stay longer and travel in larger groups. These trends suggest a strong finish to the year, and our increased fleet capacity allows us to meet that demand.”

He noted that the combination of rising international arrivals and steady regional movement is positively impacting domestic travel volumes.

“South Africa continues to attract international visitors, many of whom then travel between Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban. This creates healthy demand on core domestic routes, which is precisely where LIFT is focused,” said Jordan.