World City Guide

Getting There By Air

Johannesburg International Airport (JNB)
Tel: (011) 921 6911 or (011) 921 6262 (help desk)
Website: www.airports.co.za

Handling over 11 million passengers each year, Johannesburg International Airport (formerly Jan Smuts) is Africa’s busiest (many say best) airport. The Airports Company (ACSA) has invested R1.16 billion in upgrading facilities since 1993 – this figure will reach R3 billion when the project reaches completion in 2006. The new Domestic Terminal was completed during 2003. Situated 19km (12 miles) east of the city centre, a total of 51 international airlines use Johannesburg International Airport’s facilities on a regular basis, with flights to and from over 60 cities in 50 countries.

Major airlines: National airline South African Airways – SAA (tel: (011) 978 1111; website: www.saa.co.za) connects Johannesburg to all of South Africa’s major towns and cities, as well as to the capital cities of all of southern Africa’s countries and other international destinations. Other major carriers that operate from Johannesburg International include Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Egypt Air, El-Al, Emirates, Kenya Airways, KLM, Kulula.com, Lufthansa, Malaysian Airlines, Olympic Airways, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Swiss and Virgin Atlantic.

Approximate flight times to Johannesburg: From London is 10 hours 45 minutes; from New York (via London) is 17 hours 45 minutes; from Los Angeles (via London) is 21 hours 15 minutes; from Toronto (via London) is 18 hours and from Sydney (via Perth) is 17 hours.

Airport facilities: These include 24-hour help phones, 24-hour medical clinic, wireless Internet access, mobile-phone rental, a 24-hour food hall, bureaux de change, a 24-hour telephone centre, banks, ATMs, travel agent, tourist information, left-luggage, car hire (Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Imperial and Tempest), a brand new duty-free area, shops, restaurants, bars, a chapel, Muslim prayer rooms, 45-room transit hotel and an emergency medical clinic.

Business facilities: There is a business centre (tel: (011) 921 6991), which contains a 10-room conference centre, a media conference room, mobile-phone rental and VIP facilities.

Arrival/departure tax: Included in the price of the ticket.

Transport to the city: The Magic Bus shuttle (tel: (011) 548 0822) operates to Sandton and Midrand only for around R100. To get to the Park City Terminus at Park Railway Station, as well as to all other locations within Johannesburg, enquire at the Itram desks in all the luggage collection areas (tel: (011) 921 6062 share-call (SA 0nly) 0861656463; www.itram.co.za). Except during ‘rush hours’ (peak traffic periods) (0700-0900 and 1600-1800), when there can be serious delays, the trip to Park City takes about 40 minutes, central Sandton is 50 minutes and Midrand 45 minutes. Tickets (R60 one way) can be booked from the company’s desk near the International Arrivals exit.

For less central destinations, there are shuttle buses such as the Magic Bus (tel: (011) 328 8092), Airport Link (tel: (011) 792 2017), Welcome Tours (tel: (011) 442 8905) and TTC (tel: (011) 447 1052), which charge around R400 for a door-to-door transfer. Taking a taxi from the airport may be quicker than the bus or shuttle but visitors should make sure the driver knows exactly where to go before setting off. Taxis that are airport approved will display a green, yellow and white sticker. A taxi will cost at least R200-300 for anywhere within Johannesburg and the fare should be agreed upon before boarding.