Photos have shown an eerie abandoned airport lying in ruin after it welcomed 250 million passengers and was once considered the heart of a city. Durban International Airport once proudly welcomed holidaymakers in Kwa-Zulu Natal (Durban), South Africa. The site was known as a bustling centre point for locals and tourists. However, the airport was abandoned in 2010, despite it being labelled the third-busiest in the country.
It has now been ditched for 14 years and is largely unused compared to its former self. Officials shifted their focus and built the newly-improved King Shaka International Airport which is now considered a vital hub for both regional and international travel. The improved site was erected shortly before the 2010 FIFA World Cup which boosted travel influx into the country.
The major football tournament welcomed a staggering 309,554 international visitors to the country, according to the South African government. As all eyes and funds were placed on King Shaka International Airport, the old Durban International Airport fell to the waste side and has become increasingly desolate over the years.
In 2012, airport ownership was transferred from the Airports Company South Africa to Transnet for nearly £88,219,000 (R2 billion). A private company known as Seaworld Aviation also tried to salvage the airport and return it to its former glory. This included an ambitious plan to have smaller airlines use the old airport in the hopes that it would further boost tourism in the city, reports Express.
