Popular Airport | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Intl. Airport |
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Popular Airlines | |
Approximate Flight Duration | 9 hour 10 min |
Approximate Travel Distance | 7365 Km |
Taking a taxi in the morning or evening outside of rush hours is probably the most reliable method of transport to the airport in densely populated Durban. It’s also possible to reach the airport with rented cars or shuttle company buses.
You can reach the airport by taxi from the city centre in around 30 to 50 minutes depending on traffic conditions. It might be a good idea to speak with the taxi driver beforehand and let them know your time of departure to not have any bad surprises for your journey.
The shuttle buses that leave for the airport depart from Durban Station in the city centre, depart once every day at 8:00, 11:00, and 16:00 and reach the airport in around half an hour.
The traffic flows on the left side in Durban, so if you come from a country where you drive on the right it might be a better idea to hire a car with a driver rather than getting behind the steering wheel yourself. If you come from country where cars drive on the left side, you might be more at home with this option.
There is only one terminal in King Shaka Airport where there is an ABSA bank, which opens half an hour before the first flight and closes half an hour after the last flight. In addition, you can find financial services from the ATMs of First National Bank, Nedbank, and Standard Bank. There is a prayer room for Muslims, and a post office that offers services depending on the first and last flights of the day. There are baby and childcare rooms that mothers can use.
In addition to these services, the airport has many lounges. The most exclusive ones are the South African Airways Business Class Lounge, found near the entrance of the terminal, and BIDVest Premier Lounge. In these lounges you can order some food and rest on comfortable seating areas to read books or newspapers.
Airport restaurants include; Cape Town Fish Market, Cosmic Candy, Big Five Duty Free, Fego Coffee Shop, Kauai, KFC, Milky Lane, Mugg&Bean, Panarottis, Rhapsody’s, Spur, Steers, Sweet Treat, The Airport Cellar, and Wimpy. There is also a Yemaya Nail Express, Woolworts, Vodashop, Tie Stop, The Urban Retreat, The Scoin Shop, NWJ Fine Jewellery, Sneakers, Sunglass Hunt, Nike, MTN, Moda Luggage&Leather, Khasav, Jeep, EM Native, and Electro Electronics for your shopping needs.
Many transportation options are available, including:
Taxis are available at the exit of the arrival area of Terminal 1. It is advisable to negotiate and agree on the fare with the driver beforehand since some taxis do not have taximeters. For a more reliable option, you can request a prepaid taxi from the counter inside Terminal 1 or use ride-hailing services. Travel time to the city center varies depending on traffic conditions but generally takes around 20 minutes.
Car rental companies operate within the arriving passenger area of Terminal 1. Due to heavy traffic and varying adherence to traffic rules in Ahmedabad, it is often recommended for foreigners to rent a car with a driver. It takes approximately 20 minutes to reach the city center under normal traffic conditions.
Several bus routes operated by Ahmedabad Janmarg Limited (AJL) and private companies connect the airport to the city center. Routes 105 and 101 travel to Lal Darwaja Bus Station, while routes 16 and 06 go to the main railway station. Travel time can vary due to traffic conditions. Buses can be crowded, so they may not be the best option for travelers with heavy luggage. Passengers can transfer from these stations to reach other parts of the city or nearby regions.