Assessing the prospects and challenges of the Dube Trade-Port (Durban) Aerotropolis.

Abstract

Airports around the world are being expanded from transportation centers to economic hubs. This new development phenomenon is driven by what is increasingly known as aerotropolis or airport metropolis, a new type of urban airport-led development that functions as centres of economic activity for local and global markets. This is primarily because air travel has become the fastest and trendiest means of transportation and one of the main contributors to the globalization of cities through the brokerage role of airports. While this development phenomenon has mainly been studied through aerotropolis models in developed countries, there is a lack of studies on aerotropolis development in developing countries. Against the above background, this study is a developmental investigation into the prospects and challenges of the Dube Tradeport Aerotropolis project headed in conjunction with the KwaZuluNatal provincial government and other private-public partnerships at the King Shaka International Airport. Methodologically, the study used secondary qualitative data to unpack the prospects and challenges of an aerotropolis development in the context of a developing nation. The study finds that the Dube Tradeport Aerotropolis development has the prospects of improving the economy of KwaZulu-Natal, particularly in ensuring trickle-down benefits from the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality to neighbouring municipalities such as KwaDukuza and Ndwedwe. This is evident in the number of jobs created by this mega-project and the overall investment in new ventures in and around the airport through the Dube Tradeport Economic Zone. The study found that the Dube Tradeport Aerotropolis poses challenges to the poor by not prioritizing inclusiveness in the economy and wealth generated by this development. Job creation has been a by-product and the indirect inclusion of the poor in developing this Aerotropolis, as evident in the temporary jobs that phase one of this development has provided. The study recommends prioritizing decent, sustainable and full employment of the poor from the emerging aerotropolis city to help address the country’s high unemployment rate.