Africa's abandoned airport that once served 250m passengers but is now a 'ghost town'

Durban's old airport has been left to rot after being abandoned 14 years ago. (Image: GETTY)

Once the jewel in the crown of Kwa-Zulu Natal (Durban) in South Africa, an airport now lies in ruins, a shadow of its former glory.

The old Durban International Airport was deserted in 2010 and has largely been untouched for over 14 years.

Once the third busiest in Africa, this airport was forsaken in favour of a new airport to the city's north.

The upgraded King Shaka International Airport was constructed just prior to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which, according to the South African government's data, saw approximately 309,554 international visitors flock to the country.

As all attention and resources were diverted to King Shaka International Airport, the old Durban International Airport was neglected and grew increasingly desolate.

READ MORE: Africa's beautiful island so pretty tourists say it has world's best beach

Durban's old airport has now become a ghost town. (Image: GETTY)

Currently, the airport is embroiled in legal uncertainty, with corruption allegations and ongoing court battles further contributing to its ghost town status.

Durban International Airport opened its doors in 1951 and saw around 250 million passengers annually.

The airport remained a central hub for South African travel for nearly six decades.

Durban's old airport serviced around 250m passengers a year. (Image: GETTY)

It also served as a base for the South African Air Force and the Police Air Wing during the 2010 FIFA World Cup before decommissioning.

In 2012, the ownership of the airport was transferred from the Airports Company South Africa to Transnet for a sum close to £88,219,000 (R2 billion).

Seaworld Aviation, a private company, planned to restore the airport to its former glory, including enticing smaller airlines to use the old airport to boost tourism in the city. In June 2017, Transnet signed a lease to operate the airport for ten years from 2017 to 2027.the

However, the plan was halted due to contract dispute litigation between Transnet and Seaworld.

As refurbishment plans were put on hold, Transnet began leasing out parts of the old airport, including the main runway, which is now used for vehicle storage.

Despite some areas being utilised, much of the old airport remains untouched. Damage has been caused to the property over the years, with people smashing walls, cutting through buildings, and repurposing aviation fuel storage tanks.