The SAAF Forum

Hi All

I am constantly awed by the aircraft type diversity that has accompanied the Foreign-Based Scheduled Passenger Operators (FBSPO) that have courted Durban's King Shaka International Airport (KSIA) since its inception. This is especially significant given that KSIA is a relatively 'small' international airport compared with some. This is one aspect that has really motivated my aviation experience at KSIA.

Illustrating this point, below is a list of all the FBSPOs at KSIA since inception and all the aircraft types that each have introduced to service there:

Emirates (Airbus A330 and Boeing 777);
Air Mauritius (Airbus A319);
Proflight Zambia (CRJ100/200);
Turkish Airlines (-);
Ethiopian (Boeing 737);
Qatar Airways (Boeing 787 and A350);
Air Seychelles (Airbus A320);
British Airways (-);
Air Namibia (ERJ-135);
Eswatini Air (ERJ-145);
Air Botswana (ATR 72 and Embraer E-170)

Note that although Turkish Airlines has operated more different types than any other one FBSPO (four), none have been introduced by the airline.

From the above it is apparent that 11 different operators have operated 12 disparate aircraft types to date. This would appear to be an extraordinary aircraft diversity rate.

Does anyone reading this know of any other airport anywhere that can lay claim to a similar or superior aircraft type diversity amongst its FBSPOs?

Flying regards

Clinton Barnard