Flights at OR Tambo
Africa's second busiest airport connects Johannesburg to every inhabited continent. Explore live flight information, airline guides, terminal maps, and tips for smooth check-in, transit and arrival at JNB.
Navigate the Airport
Terminal Guide
Six terminals, each dedicated to specific routes and airlines.
Emirates, BA, Lufthansa, Qatar, KLM, Singapore Airlines and all major international carriers.
Customs, baggage reclaim, Gautrain station, car hire desks and meet-and-greet.
South African Airways, British Airways domestic, SA Airlink. Business lounges.
FlySafair, Lift, Cemair. Cape Town, Durban, PE and George routes.
Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and regional African destinations.
Private aviation, charter operations and VVIP terminal.
46 Airlines · 140+ Destinations
Airlines at OR Tambo
Key carriers serving Johannesburg, including their main routes and terminals.
Emirates
Daily flights to Dubai (DXB) with onward connections to 150+ cities worldwide. OR Tambo is one of Emirates' highest-capacity routes.
British Airways
Daily nonstop to London Heathrow. Comair operates BA-branded domestic South African routes from Terminal C.
Lufthansa
Flights to Frankfurt with Star Alliance connections. SWISS also operates JNB–Zürich, sharing the Star Alliance lounge.
Qatar Airways
Daily flights to Doha (DOH) connecting to Europe, Asia and the Americas via Hamad International — consistently rated world's best airport.
Ethiopian Airlines
Africa's largest airline connecting OR Tambo to Addis Ababa (ADD) and onward to 60+ African destinations and intercontinental routes.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM operates daily nonstop flights between JNB and Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), with SkyTeam connections across Europe, Asia and the Americas.
Singapore Airlines
Ultra-long nonstop JNB–Singapore (SIN) service — one of the longest routes departing from South Africa. Business and premium economy available.
South African Airways
South Africa's flag carrier operating domestic routes (Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth) and some African routes. Baobab lounge available for J-class passengers.
FlySafair
South Africa's most punctual airline offering low-cost domestic flights. FlySafair consistently ranks among the world's most on-time carriers.
Turkish Airlines
Nonstop JNB–Istanbul (IST) with connections to 120+ countries. Turkish Airlines' Star Alliance membership gives access to the Star Alliance lounge at OR Tambo.
Practical Advice
Check-In & Security Tips
Make your departure from OR Tambo as smooth as possible.
Arrive Early
International flights: arrive at least 3 hours before departure. Domestic flights: 90 minutes minimum. During school holidays and long weekends, add an extra 30–45 minutes for queues.
Online Check-In
Most airlines open online check-in 24–48 hours before departure. Completing check-in in advance and using a mobile boarding pass saves significant time at the terminal — especially for domestic flights.
Baggage Rules
Baggage allowances vary widely between carriers. International economy typically allows 1–2 bags of 23 kg. Domestic economy is usually 23 kg. Low-cost carriers like FlySafair charge for checked bags unless pre-purchased.
Security
Remove laptops, liquids (100ml max, clear bag), and belts before reaching the scanner. OR Tambo uses modern X-ray equipment — full-body scans are routine. Allow 20–30 minutes for international security.
Immigration
South African citizens use dedicated e-gate lanes (faster). Foreign nationals queue for manual immigration processing. Peak times: 06:00–09:00 and 20:00–23:00 for international arrivals. Have your documents ready.
Getting to the Airport
The Gautrain from Sandton takes 15 minutes and is the most reliable option, especially during rush hour. Allow 60–90 minutes by road from Johannesburg CBD during peak traffic. See our Transfers Guide for full options.
Questions