Faith Nyasuguta
Air travel in Africa has significantly evolved, overcoming past challenges such as limited routes, high fares, and infrastructure constraints. Strategic investments, airline partnerships, and modernized airports have made flying more accessible and efficient across the continent.
A key example of this transformation is Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport (JNB), which stands out as the only airport in Africa offering regularly scheduled nonstop passenger flights to all six inhabited continents, according to Simply Flying.
A Major Hub for Global Connectivity
Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport is the busiest in sub-Saharan Africa, handling 12.2 million passengers in 2024, according to OAG’s Global Airline Schedules Data. It serves as the primary hub for South Africa’s major airlines and welcomes over 30 international carriers, providing direct connections to Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Australia/Oceania.
Key Domestic and Regional Routes
The busiest routes from Johannesburg are domestic, with nearly 300 weekly flights to Cape Town and around 200 to Durban. The airport also plays a crucial role in linking Southern African nations, with Harare being the busiest international connection, seeing up to 77 weekly flights.
Asia & Middle East
The Dubai-Johannesburg route is the most active in this region, with up to 21 weekly flights. Emirates operates double-daily Airbus A380 flights and a daily Boeing 777 service. Johannesburg is also connected to Shenzhen, which is the longest nonstop route from Asia at 10,678 km (5,766 NM).
Europe
Historically, Johannesburg has been a key gateway to European cities like London, Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, and Istanbul. The busiest European route is London Heathrow-Johannesburg, with up to 19 weekly flights as of January 2025.
North America
Direct flights between Johannesburg and North America are limited to two routes. Delta Air Lines and United Airlines offer the only nonstop US-Africa connections, also serving Cape Town. The Atlanta-Johannesburg flight is the longest nonstop route to Africa at 13,581 km (7,333 NM), followed by the Newark-Johannesburg flight at 12,858 km (6,943 NM).
South America
Currently, only two routes connect South Africa and South America: Sao Paulo-Cape Town and Sao Paulo-Johannesburg, serving as crucial links between the continents.
Australia & Oceania
Johannesburg is one of only two African airports, alongside Mauritius, with nonstop flights from Australia/Oceania, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
Strengthening Africa’s Aviation Network
Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport continues to play a critical role in Africa’s global connectivity, bridging continents and solidifying its status as a key international hub.
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