O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
ICAO: FAOR
Live Flight Status
O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) Arrivals & Departures — check real-time flight status, delays, gate changes, and baggage claim information for all domestic and international flights at JNB.
Overview
O. R. Tambo International Airport (IATA: JNB, ICAO: FAOR) is the primary international airport serving Johannesburg, the capital of Gauteng province, and the busiest airport in Africa by passenger traffic. Located about 22 km east of Johannesburg city centre in the suburb of Kempton Park, JNB is the main hub for South African Airways (SA) and a key base for FlySafair (FA), Airlink (4Z), and British Airways (BA).
Opened in 1952 as Jan Smuts International Airport, it was renamed Johannesburg International Airport in 1994 and finally O. R. Tambo International Airport in 2006, honouring the anti-apartheid politician Oliver Reginald Tambo. The airport operates six terminals — Terminals A through F — each dedicated to specific routes and airlines, with Terminal A handling international departures and Terminal B serving international arrivals. It features two main runways capable of handling the largest commercial aircraft, including the Boeing 777 and Airbus A380.
JNB connects to over 140 destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, served by more than 46 airlines. It is the main hub for South African Airways (SA) and a major gateway between Africa and the rest of the world. Popular routes include Cape Town (CPT), Durban (DUR), London (LHR), Dubai (DXB), Frankfurt (FRA), Doha (DOH), Amsterdam (AMS), and Singapore (SIN).
In 2024, O. R. Tambo International Airport handled approximately 21 million passengers, maintaining its position as the busiest airport in Africa. The airport has a designed capacity of 28 million passengers per annum and is a key driver of South Africa’s tourism and business travel industry.
Popular Destinations from O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Regional African routes include Nairobi (NBO), Addis Ababa (ADD), Lagos (LOS), Harare (HRE), Lusaka (LUN), Maputo (MPM), and Windhoek (WDH). Airlines serving these routes include Ethiopian Airlines (ET), Kenya Airways (KQ), Air Tanzania (TC), RwandAir (WB), and LAM Mozambique (TM).
International long-haul routes include London (LHR), Dubai (DXB), Frankfurt (FRA), Doha (DOH), Amsterdam (AMS), Singapore (SIN), Istanbul (IST), Paris (CDG), and Hong Kong (HKG). Airlines serving these routes include Emirates (EK), British Airways (BA), Lufthansa (LH), Qatar Airways (QR), KLM (KL), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Turkish Airlines (TK), Air France (AF), Cathay Pacific (CX), Qantas (QF), and EgyptAir (MS).
The airport connects over 140 destinations across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and the Americas, operated by more than 46 airlines.
Terminals
O. R. Tambo International Airport operates six passenger terminals — Terminals A through F — each dedicated to specific routes and airlines.
Terminal A is the international departures terminal. All international check-in counters, outbound immigration processing, security screening, and the international duty-free shopping mall are located here. Airlines operating from Terminal A include Emirates (EK), British Airways (BA), Lufthansa (LH), Qatar Airways (QR), KLM (KL), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Turkish Airlines (TK), Air France (AF), Cathay Pacific (CX), Qantas (QF), and EgyptAir (MS). The InterContinental Hotel is directly connected to Terminal A via an enclosed walkway.
Terminal B is the international arrivals terminal. All international arrivals process through Terminal B, including inbound immigration, customs, and baggage reclaim on carousels 1–14. The international arrivals hall is where meeters and greeters wait, and where all car hire desks are located. The Gautrain rapid rail station is directly connected to Terminal B.
Terminal C handles domestic check-in and departures for South African Airways (SA), British Airways domestic routes operated by Comair, and South African Airlink (4Z). The SAA Baobab Lounge and Bidvest Premier Lounge are both located airside in Terminal C.
Terminal D is the low-cost domestic terminal, used by FlySafair (FA), Lift (GE), and Cemair (5Z) with routes to Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, and George.
Terminal E handles flights within Africa — Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Mozambique. Ethiopian Airlines (ET) is the dominant carrier. A short covered walkway connects Terminal E to the main terminal complex.
Terminal F is the dedicated private aviation and charter terminal, with separate security screening, dedicated drop-off area, and discreet handling for corporate jets, sports charters, government delegations, and VVIP travel[citation:20].
The minimum connection time at JNB is 60–90 minutes for most international transfers and 45–60 minutes for domestic-to-domestic transfers.
| Terminal | Purpose | Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal A | International Departures | Emirates (EK), British Airways (BA), Lufthansa (LH), Qatar Airways (QR), KLM (KL), Singapore Airlines (SQ), Turkish Airlines (TK), Air France (AF), Cathay Pacific (CX), Qantas (QF), EgyptAir (MS) |
| Terminal B | International Arrivals & Gautrain | All international arrivals |
| Terminal C | Domestic — SAA & British Airways | South African Airways (SA), British Airways Domestic (BA/Comair), SA Airlink (4Z) |
| Terminal D | Domestic — Low-Cost Carriers | FlySafair (FA), Lift (GE), Cemair (5Z) |
Transportation
O. R. Tambo International Airport is well connected to Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria, and the surrounding Gauteng region through several transport options. The airport is located about 22 km east of Johannesburg city centre.
Gautrain
The Gautrain rapid rail service connects the airport directly to Sandton (15 min), Rosebank, Park Station (Johannesburg CBD, about 35 min), and Pretoria (40 min). The station is directly connected to Terminal B — follow the blue Gautrain signs from the arrivals hall. This is the fastest and most reliable option for reaching key business districts.
Taxi
Official metered airport taxis operate from a dedicated taxi rank outside the main terminal building. The journey to Sandton takes about 30 minutes depending on traffic. Only officially accredited taxis should be used. Unsolicited drivers in the arrivals hall should be politely declined.
Ride-hailing
Uber and Bolt operate at JNB. Pick-up zones are clearly marked, with the Uber/Bolt pick-up area located at P2 Level 0. Prices are usually similar to or slightly cheaper than metered taxis.
Pre-Booked Shuttles & Private Transfers
Several reputable companies offer pre-booked shuttle and private transfer services. Drivers typically wait in the arrivals hall with a sign. This is recommended for families, larger groups, or anyone preferring pre-arranged pickup.
Car Rental
Major car rental companies operate at JNB, including Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Bidvest, and Woodford. All car hire desks are located in the international arrivals hall (Terminal B). Pre-booking is recommended for savings of up to 40%.
Car Rental at O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Compare live rates from Avis, Hertz, Europcar, Bidvest, and Woodford. All car hire desks are located in the international arrivals hall (Terminal B). Pre-booking is recommended for savings of up to 40%. Free cancellation on most bookings.
🚗 Search available cars →Hotels Near O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Choose from 20+ hotels near O. R. Tambo International Airport — from the InterContinental Johannesburg O.R. Tambo Airport (directly connected to Terminal A via an enclosed walkway) to the Southern Sun OR Tambo International Airport (within 500 metres, with a complimentary 24-hour shuttle operating every 15 minutes) and the Holiday Inn Johannesburg Airport (a 5-minute shuttle ride). All include complimentary 24-hour shuttle service and free Wi-Fi.
🏨 See nearby hotels →O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) Map & Layout
Interactive map showing terminals, parking, taxi stands, ride-hailing pickup zones, and nearby landmarks.
Airport Information & Contacts
1 Jones Road, O.R. Tambo, Kempton Park, 1627, South Africa