O.R. Tambo International Airport Guide
O.R. Tambo International Airport is located in Kempton Park, Gauteng, roughly 22 km northeast of Johannesburg CBD and 46 km south of Pretoria. Situated at 1,700 metres above sea level, the high-altitude environment affects aircraft performance and requires longer take-off rolls. It is Africa's busiest airport and handles more than half of all air passengers travelling through South Africa.
The airport operates two parallel runways and a cluster of six terminals divided into international, domestic, regional, and private aviation functions. International departures and arrivals are split across Terminals A and B, while Terminals C and D serve full-service and low-cost domestic carriers respectively. Terminal E handles regional African routes, and Terminal F serves VIP and charter traffic. A Gautrain rapid-rail station at Terminal B connects the airport directly to Sandton and Johannesburg Park Station.
The airport opened commercially in 1953 as Jan Smuts International Airport, was renamed Johannesburg International Airport in 1994, and took its current name in 2006 after anti-apartheid leader Oliver Tambo. It is operated by Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) and serves as the primary hub for South African Airways and the main gateway for international services to Africa from carriers across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas.
Services
5 of 6 availableCompare 51 listed options at O.R. Tambo International Airport, spanning parking, car rentals, lounges, hotels and shuttles. Each guide sets out locations, distance from the airport, key features and links to book direct, so you can weigh cost against convenience before you fly. Select a service below to see every provider we track for O.R. Tambo International Airport.
Location
Key facts
- Size
- 18M passengers (2023)2 runwaysopened 1953
- Location
- -26.140, 28.247
- Operator
- Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)
Terminals
6 terminalsO.R. Tambo International Airport has 6 passenger terminals — Terminal A, Terminal B, Terminal C, Terminal D, Terminal E and Terminal F, handling both international and domestic flights for around 26 airlines. Check which terminal your airline uses before you travel, as check-in, security and boarding points differ between them, and moving from one to another can take time.
- Terminal AInternational
Emirates, British Airways, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, KLM, Singapore Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Air France, Cathay Pacific, EgyptAir, China Eastern, Qantas
- Terminal BInternational
South African Airways, Airlink, FlySafair, Lift, RwandAir, Air Cote D'Ivoire, Air Mauritius
- Terminal CDomestic
South African Airways, British Airways, SA Airlink
- Terminal DDomestic
FlySafair, Lift, Cemair
- Terminal EMixed
Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Air Tanzania, RwandAir, LAM Mozambique, Air Zimbabwe
- Terminal FPrivate
Nearby cities
3 citiesO.R. Tambo International Airport is closest to Johannesburg (22 km southwest), and also serves Sandton, Pretoria and other nearby areas. With 3 towns and cities within reach, it is a practical gateway for the wider region. Distances shown are straight-line from the airport, so allow extra time for road transfers, traffic and parking.
- Johannesburg22 km southwest
- Sandton23 km west
- Pretoria46 km north
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the airport codes for O.R. Tambo International Airport?
Where is O.R. Tambo International Airport located?
Where is O.R. Tambo International Airport located?
What services are available at O.R. Tambo International Airport?
What services are available at O.R. Tambo International Airport?
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