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Data source: OurAirports (2026-09-01 Snapshot) · Methodology & Verification →

King Shaka International Airport

Compiled by

Durban, Kwazulu-Natal (South Africa)
IATA: DUR ICAO: FALE
Longest Active Runway
12,139 ft
3,700 meters
Field Elevation
295 ft
90 m MSL
Runway Inventory
1 active
Unlighted / Paved
Coordinates & Class
-29.6144°, 31.1197°
LARGE AIRPORT
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Multi-Universe Rankings & Statistical Standing

How ranks work →
RunwayFacts Published Dataset
tied #160 of 650
In curated primary commercial index
Global Commercial Universe
#252 of 7558
Top 3.4% percentile worldwide
For airports with equal runway length, the worldwide order does not indicate a length difference.
National Standing (South Africa)
#2 of 6 in ZA
#5 of 68 in full national registry
vs Large Airport Median
+21.4%
Compared to 10,000 ft baseline
💡 DUR in numbers: 12,139 ft longest runway · tied #160 of 650 published · #252 of 7,558 worldwide (top 3.4%) · #2 in South Africa.
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Editorial Aerodrome Deep Dive: King Shaka International Airport (DUR)

Curated Aerodrome Profile

King Shaka International Airport (DUR) has one runway, 06/24, at 12,139 ft (3,700 m) and 197 ft wide, matching ACSA's 3.7 km. The field is 295 ft (90 m) above sea level, and ACSA says provision exists for a second runway.

Runway Layout & Magnetic Alignments
Single paved Runway 06/24 (12,139 ft / 3,700 m).
Expansion Milestones & Predecessor Facilities
King Shaka International Airport began operations on 1 May 2010, ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup; the official opening followed on 8 May 2010.
Regional Differentiation & Cluster Role
Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB) is 258 NM to the northwest. The airport sits within the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone (KZN EDTEA).

DUR vs national peers (RunwayFacts data)

  • DUR's 12,139 ft runway is 1,802 ft above the median longest runway of the 6 published airports in South Africa (10,337 ft).
  • 3 of those 6 airports have two or more active runways; DUR has 1.
  • Nearest published airport in South Africa: Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport (MQP), 254 NM away, longest runway 10,171 ft, elevation 2,829 ft.
  • Within the 650 published airports, DUR ranks tied #160 by runway length and #341 by elevation.

Sourced history & facilities

📚 Official Aerodrome Sourcing: South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) · ATNS Aeronautical Information Publication (South Africa AIP)
Verification Methodology →

🔬 Operational & Aerodrome Engineering Comparative Analysis

Longest runway ≥10,500 ft
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Elevation & National Context

Lowland Aerodrome (<2,000 ft)

DUR lies at 90 m (295 ft), #341 of 650 published airports by elevation and 42.6 percentile among 7,558 worldwide. It is 3,095 ft below the South Africa median (3,390 ft, 6 airports); JNB is highest at 5,558 ft, 5,263 ft higher than DUR.

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Regional Density & Alternates (100 NM)

0 Qualifying Aerodromes in Vicinity

No published neighbour with a paved runway of 5,000 ft or more within 100 NM of DUR. Nearest published airport: Moshoeshoe I International Airport (MSU), 186 NM, 10,498 ft (1,641 ft shorter than DUR); 3 within 250 NM.

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Runway Inventory & National Standing

Primary Runway: 12,139 ft (3,700 m)

DUR runway: 06/24 12,139 × 197 ft asphalt. National standing: #2 of 6 in South Africa; JNB leads by 2,356 ft (14,495 ft). +21.4% vs the 10,000 ft baseline.

🛫 Physical Runway Inventory & Surface Engineering

Runway Designator Length (ft / m) Width (ft / m) Surface Material Lighting Status
06/24 12,139 ft (3700 m / 3.700 km) 197 ft (60m) Asphalt ❌ Unlighted ✅ Active

🛡️ Source: OurAirports Open Aviation Database, snapshot 2026-09-01 · Provenance →