Direct Flights London-Durban?

[clive3300]

I'm flying out to SA in February 2011 and trying to book flights, ideally direct as I have young kids and the Joburg stop will be painful. As far as I can tell, this route does not exist which I thought was surprising.

Skyscanner routed everything via Madrid, Dubai or Joburg. Virgin, BA and SAA dont offer it.

The airport website (http://lamercy.info/) is embarrassingly amateurish (surely there must be a "more" official one?) and suggests that only 3 airlines fly there.

Any idea of who might fly London-Durban direct?

[GregPz]

The "official" airport website is www.airports.co.za
There's no direct flights from London so you'll have to route via Jo'burg or Dubai.

[SA BOY]

recently done direct into Durban from Dubai and via Joburg and Joburg is not as bad as it was before, actually was quite an easy transfer

[Ron2K]

Nope, no direct flights at the moment (flightplan was hinting at VIR opening up that route, but we haven't seen him around for a while). You'll have to route EGLL-OMDB-FALE or EGLL-FAJS-FALE. (I also have a friend in the UK who flies with ETD on EGLL-OMAA-FAJS and then one of the local LCC's on FAJS-FALE!)

[dysan1]

Originally Posted by clive3300

I'm flying out to SA in February 2011 and trying to book flights, ideally direct as I have young kids and the Joburg stop will be painful. As far as I can tell, this route does not exist which I thought was surprising.

Skyscanner routed everything via Madrid, Dubai or Joburg. Virgin, BA and SAA dont offer it.

The airport website (http://lamercy.info/) is embarrassingly amateurish (surely there must be a "more" official one?) and suggests that only 3 airlines fly there.

Any idea of who might fly London-Durban direct?

Thats some random website created by someone obviously aiming to cover the airport. Its nothing official in any way.

If you coming from Manchester the best route is Direct from Manchester via Dubai to Durban. Least number of flights and connections

[rgadriani]

I did send BA an e-mail on the subject of direct London-durban flights earlier this month. Their reply was as follows:

"At present we are unable to say if we will offer direct flights to Durban in the future. If we do plan or begin operations on a new route, you will be able to view the latest information on ba.com.

I have forwarded your comments to the relevant department as feedback for consideration in future"

So, no real news but at least I got a considered reply. The Joburg transit adds several hours. Will try the Emirates/Dubai transit next time I do London-Durban. Slightly longer flight times, but then there is marginally more seat pitch on Emirates.



Regards

[dysan1]

the market is there, someone just needs to grow balls

[SA BOY]

Originally Posted by dysan1

Thats some random website created by someone obviously aiming to cover the airport. Its nothing official in any way.

If you coming from Manchester the best route is Direct from Manchester via Dubai to Durban. Least number of flights and connections

Ya come and say hello

[Durbsboi]

Originally Posted by dysan1

the market is there, someone just needs to grow balls

wheres our mate Flightplan? but he was discussing a possible route from Manchester to Durban.

[dysan1]

he has vanished

[signol]

Originally Posted by clive3300

suggests that only 3 airlines fly there.

There are only 3 international routes from Durban:
Emirates to Dubai
Air Mauritius to Mauritius
LAM/SAA to Maputo

I too would love a London - Durban flight, especially from Stansted, which has at least some space for expansion!

I heard a rumour (can't remember where) that someone is trying to get the old Nationwide AOC (air operating certificate) to start a LON-DUR route...

signol

[SA BOY]

well EK very happy with the loads and yields they are getting on Dur route, Im led to belive that they want the 2nd daily sooner rather than later and cargo is a great earner on this route.

[juzzy]

never mind a second daily flight, hows about upgrading the equiipment to something better...

[SA BOY]

dont have the planes, its A330 and will go 777 once they get new ones

[rgadriani]

Looks like Emirates have identified a winner here. With KZN being the most populous province in South Africa (21% vs Gauteng's 20%), it seems logical that there is a strong demand for international flights from Durban, which is fairly centrally located in the KZN province.

Looks like a potential goldmine for the international carriers.

[clive3300]

Thanks everyone for your input!

[dysan1]

Originally Posted by SA BOY

dont have the planes, its A330 and will go 777 once they get new ones

dont get that argument. They have launched routes since Durban on A330 and those have already been upgraded to 777 or larger Airbus's.

I have used the Durban route a number of times now and while convenient i have stopped using it unless it is by far the most practical because the planes used are pathetic

[GetDownAdam]

Originally Posted by dysan1

I have used the Durban route a number of times now and while convenient i have stopped using it unless it is by far the most practical because the planes used are pathetic

Same here. I even wrote to them about the shoddy plane, and filled out one of those onboard questionnaires but no response. I imagine it's quite far down on their to-do list.

[SA BOY]

Originally Posted by dysan1

dont get that argument. They have launched routes since Durban on A330 and those have already been upgraded to 777 or larger Airbus's.

I have used the Durban route a number of times now and while convenient i have stopped using it unless it is by far the most practical because the planes used are pathetic

So what you are saying is despite high loads to Durban ( hense driver for increase seats)and loads of planes sitting around in Dubai gathering dust, there must be another reason why they are still A330?

[SA BOY]

I used to do DXB -CDG every 3 weeks ( 2 years ago) on EK and despite Paris having 3 dailies all were either A330 or a shitty 772 and this is Paris. It will upgrade to 777-300 in due course but for now it fills a hole with the A330