O.R. Tambo International Airport
O.R. Tambo International Airport is located approximately 25 kilometres east of central Johannesburg, in Gauteng province, South Africa. It serves as the country's primary international gateway and the busiest airport on the African continent. Opened in 1952 as Jan Smuts Airport, it was renamed in 2006 to honour Oliver Reginald Tambo, the anti-apartheid leader.
About O.R. Tambo International Airport
O.R. Tambo International Airport is located approximately 25 kilometres east of central Johannesburg, in Gauteng province, South Africa. It serves as the country's primary international gateway and the busiest airport on the African continent. Opened in 1952 as Jan Smuts Airport, it was renamed in 2006 to honour Oliver Reginald Tambo, the anti-apartheid leader.
The airport operates two main terminals: an international terminal handling intercontinental traffic and a domestic terminal serving South African routes, connected by an internal transit system. Two parallel runways oriented roughly east–west allow simultaneous operations. The airport functions on a 24-hour basis, supporting its role as a major transit hub for connecting flights across Africa and beyond.
Overview
O.R. Tambo International Airport is located approximately 25 kilometres east of central Johannesburg, in Gauteng province, South Africa. It serves as the country's primary international gateway and the busiest airport on the African continent. Opened in 1952 as Jan Smuts Airport, it was renamed in 2006 to honour Oliver Reginald Tambo, the anti-apartheid leader.
Airlines
South African Airways and its low-cost affiliate Mango have historically been based here, alongside Kulula and FlySafair serving domestic routes. As Africa's foremost hub, O.R. Tambo attracts a broad range of major international carriers from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and the Americas, making it a critical intercontinental connecting point.
Airlines
Airlines flying from JNB
Routes
Top routes from JNB
Nearby airports
Other airports in South Africa
FAQ
O.R. Tambo International Airport — frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the details travellers usually check first, from codes and locations to the practical basics that help with planning.
8 common questions
- O.R. Tambo International Airport is located in Johannesburg, South Africa (Africa), at coordinates -26.130°, 28.230°.
- Its IATA code is JNB and its ICAO code is FAOR.
- O.R. Tambo International Airport serves Johannesburg, South Africa. When comparing fares, check whether other airports also serve the same area — prices and transfer times can differ between them.
- O.R. Tambo International Airport operates on Africa/Johannesburg local time. Departure and arrival times on tickets are always shown in each airport's local time, so double-check the offset when planning connections or pick-ups.
- O.R. Tambo International Airport sits at latitude -26.130° and longitude 28.230°. The map link in the details panel on this page opens the exact location for driving directions.
- Carriers tracked on routes from JNB include Mango, Asman Airlines, Qatar Airways, South African Airways, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia.
- Tracked destinations from JNB include Cape Town.
- Yes — Originfacts lists 9 other airports in South Africa. The nearby-airports section on this page links to each of them, which is useful when comparing fares or finding an alternative departure point.