Route will increase leisure, tourism business travel
µµ It is time to take action to change this narrative. As Eswatini Air, in collaboration with our partners in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), are dedicated to changing the aviation narrative.”
DURBAN – It is significant and is set to change a lot of narratives. These are one of the statements that best describe new route for Eswatini Air flights - from King Mswati III (KMIII) International Airport at Sikhuphe, Kingdom of Eswatini to King Shaka International Airport in Durban South Africa, which was launched yesterday.
The route is the third one to be launched by Eswatini, after KMIII International Airport/OR Tambo International Airport (Johannesburg) and KMIII International Airport to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (Harare, Zimbabwe). It was launched by having a first ever commercial flight KMIII International Airport to King Shaka International Airport.
The maiden flight left KMIII International Airport with 46 passengers yesterday at around 11:35am and 36 of them were attending the launch, while the remaining 10 were commercial passengers. On the other hand, when it came from the King Shaka International Airport, it had 39 passengers and only three were commercial passengers.
During the launch, which was held at King Shaka International Airport, Eswatini Air Board Chairperson Mndeni Mazibuko thanked the Durban Tourism Authority for their assistance in making the launch a success. He said they were aware that they have arrived at a time when they were also preoccupied with the Durban Tourism Indaba.
He said the route they were launching would undoubtedly increase leisure, tourism and business travel between the two countries. He also applaud the Airport Company of South Africa (ACSA) for approving airport slots swiftly. He assured their partners that as Eswatini Air, they would distinguish themselves by providing on-time performance as per the approved slots.
Thereafter, he said in two days, the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) would convene its 11th Aviation Stakeholders’ Convention in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He said the theme of this year’s convention would be; ‘Changing the African Aviation Narrative’.
He said what interested them the most about the theme was how it aligned to what Eswatini’s head of State said at the start of the year 2023; ‘A year of turnaround’. He said His Majesty King Mswati III said there was a need for turnaround, and change how they did things, while AFRAA said let them sit around the table and talk on how they could change the African aviation narrative. In that regard, he said it appeared that all leaders recognised the need to change the way they did things.
“When heads of State and leaders of our society speak with one voice and make a conscious decision to move in the same direction, it results in the birth of national airlines like Eswatini Air, as well as the launch of new routes in accordance with the command and guidance of leaders of our society. Unity has power; leaders have ferocious power when they speak in one voice,” the chairperson said.
In terms of the world market, he said AFRAA also pointed out that the African continent had 16 per cent of the world’s population and a two per cent share of the global trade, providing it a good potential to improve air transport. However, he said Africa’s market shares have remained stagnant for several decades, at less than three per cent of the global market.
Therefore, he said; “It is time to take action to change this narrative. As Eswatini Air, in collaboration with our partners in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) are dedicated to changing the aviation narrative,” Mazibuko said.
He then highlighted that the Kingdom of Eswatini and KZN have close cultural and familial ties. Therefore, he said the opening of a direct route from KMIII International Airport to King Shaka International Airport allows the Zulu and Swati nations to see each other in a more comfortable and easy manner.
SEPARATED
“On a lighter note, we apologise for taking so long to launch the route, which connects our kings; King Mswati III and King Shaka. Somehow our beloved Kings were separated all along, but we are here today to correct that,” the chairman added.
He said they have no doubt that this route would preserve their history for generations to come.
In terms of providing service, he reassured their stakeholders that Eswatini Air would be an economic enabler for both countries. He said they were not driven by super-profits and their service would be affordable while they made every effort to maintain a self-sustaining operation. He also promised their stakeholders a ‘Swati touch’ at all levels of the service.