Johannesburg International Airport

Johannesburg International Airport (JNB)

The Johannesburg Airport is the largest airport in South Africa and also the largest on the African continent. It was renamed on October 27, 2006 to OR Tambo International Airport, after the former leader of the resistance movement ANC. The airport processes 13 million passengers per year. According to expectations this number will increase to 24 million in 2015. In order to capture this increase and in preparation for the Football World Championship in 2010 the expansion of the airport is being worked on.

The currency of South Africa is the rand, indicated here as ‘R’ (€ 1.00 = R 9.30, November 2006).

Local transport

Train

There is no train connection with the airport yet, but in 2006 the construction of a rail connection between the airport, Thswane and Johannesburg will be started. According to expectations this will be ready for the start of the Football World Championships in 2010.

Car and bus

From Johannesburg the motorway R24 goes to the airport. By the airport there is a rather complicated intersection that connects the R24 with the R21. This road goes to Pretoria, the capital of South Africa.

Driver services are offered by Executive Carport (tel:+27(0)11 390 2062).

Busses leave from a platform in front of Terminal B. The cheapest way to get from the airport to Johannesburg is by mini bus. In the Arrivals Hall there are counters where you can purchase tickets. There are ‘unofficial’ mini busses outside the Hall.

Three times per day a bus leaves from the airport to Durban (Luxliner, tel: +27(0)11 914 5000).

Car rental Johannesburg International Airport

You can find counters in the Arrivals Hall for the car rental companies Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Imperial, Khaya, National, Sizwe and Tempest. You can also reserve a rental car in advance using the service EasyTerraprovides. They compare the rates of several providers in a single quote.

Taxi

Taxis are outside the Arrivals Hall of both terminals. These are the official taxis, recognizable by the plate with ‘taxi’ written in yellow letters. (Taxi Association, tel: +27(0)11 390 1502). You will probably be addressed by illegal taxi drivers in the Arrivals Hall. Do not discuss their offers. In most cases the price will be disadvantageous for you! A ride to Johannesburg takes about 30 – 40 minutes.

Airport Parking

By the Super South Gate there is an area for long term parking (R10 per day, tel: +27(0)11 921 6090/6091). There is a shuttle that goes to the terminals from this parking area (Randbus, tel: (011) 979 1031/1052).

There is a parking garage with places for 4000 cars under Terminal B. You can pay with a credit card at all parking facilities.

Services

Hotels

There are two hotels at the airport: the five star hotel Airport Sun-Intercontinental (tel: +27(0)11 961 5400) and Holiday Inn (tel: +27(0)11 975 1121).

In the International Terminal there is also a small Transit Hotel (tel: +27(0)11 390 1160 of +27(0)11 921 6258) for through travelers.

The larger hotels in Johannesburg almost always maintain a shuttle bus connection with the airport. These leave in front of the exit from Terminal A. Reserve a place in the shuttle bus when booking your hotel room. For more hotels and reserving online you can go to Booking.com. They have a large offering of hotels with great internet rates.

Shops and restaurants

The airport has a very large offering of shops, bars and restaurants. You can find these shops mainly on the first level of Terminal B. Bars and restaurants are especially on the first level of Terminal A.

Baggage

On the first level of the parking garage under the International Arrivals Hall is a baggage depot (tel: +27(0)11 390 2064). For the first day you pay per suitcase R50, then R40 per day. You can pay with a credit card here (MasterCard or Visa).

The counter for lost and found items is in the Arrivals Hall of Terminal A across from the post office (tel: +27(0)11 978 3733 / 5571).

Official porters walk around in the terminals and are recognizable in their orange uniforms. The price comes to R5 per suitcase.

Information

General information counters can be found in the International Terminal A (Departures Hall and Arrivals Hall) and in Terminal B (only in the Arrivals Hall).

The Gauteng Tourism Authority Information Desk in the International Arrivals Hall can help you by booking accommodation.

Business

You can rent an office at the Business Centre as well as use a fax, computer and secretarial support.

The Premier Conference Centre (tel: +27(0)11 390 1084/1118) can be found in Terminal B. There are five small meeting rooms (10-14 persons), a room for seminars (25-50 persons) and a large conference hall (60-120 persons). The hotels at the airport also have facilities for meetings and conferences.

Across from the International Arrivals Hall there are permanent exhibitions organized by the most important South African exporter (ABSA International Trade Bureau).

Handicapped persons

The Johannesburg Airport has recently been completely adapted for use by handicapped persons. There are wheelchair ramps and adapted elevaotrs (a few with Braille), restrooms and telephones. Handicapped persons can ask for assistance through the telephone at tel: 086 7277 888, option 3. On all levels of the underground parking garage there are places reserved by the elevators for handicapped persons. (ACSA Parking Office, tel: +27(0)11 921 6090).

Other services

There are two banks (Nedbank and ABSA) and several exchange offices in the International Arrivals Hall (Terminal A). There are cash machines in both terminals.

The airport has an extensive medical clinic (tel: +27(0)11 921 6609), with doctors, dentists and a physiotherapist. You can even undergo botox treatment there (to get rid of wrinkles).

Wireless internet is available in the International Departures Hall. At the airport there is also a museum devoted to the history of South African Airways. For guided tours in the airport you can call tel: +27(0)11 921 6732.

Contact

Address

Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)
Private Bag X1
OR Tambo International Airport
1627
South Africa

Telephone, fax, email

Telephone: +27(0)11 921 6911 of +27(0)11 921 6262 (helpdesk)
Fax: +27(0)11 921 6422
Email: through the contact form

Airport codes

IATA airport code: JNB
ICAO airport code: FAJS