Durban to East London flights
East London lies 459 km (285 mi) south-west of Durban, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 1 h 20 min gate to gate, based on the distance and typical cruise speed with taxi and climb allowed for; connecting itineraries add the layover on top.
Open East London in Google Maps
| Durban | East London | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Africa | South Africa |
| Population | 3.3 million | 478,676 |
| Elevation | 21 m (69 ft) | 48 m (157 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) |
| Nearest large airport | DUR, 28 km out | ELS, 8 km out |
| Postal codes | 3611–4362 | 5201–5688 |
Airports at each end
Leaving Durban
Durban is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is King Shaka International Airport (DUR), 28 km (17 mi) from the centre, whose 12,139-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Pietermaritzburg Airport (PZB, 65 km).
Arriving in East London
East London is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is King Phalo Airport (ELS), 8 km (5 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 6,362 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King Phalo Airport | ELS | 8 km (5 mi) | 6,362 ft | 435 ft |
Book a flight to East London
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Flights are sold here by AirOrSeaTravel through our booking partner, Nuitée, which takes the payment; the ticket is issued by the airline. How this works.
Staying in East London
Our booking partner lists 380 places to stay in East London. Of the 221 with a star rating, the largest group is 4-star (107), and 1 are five-star. Across 162 properties with at least 50 reviews, the average guest score is 8.3 out of 10. Guests have left 53,507 reviews in total.
Book a hotel in East London
Live rooms and prices from our booking partner, booked and paid for here. Free cancellation is marked where it applies.
Common questions
How far is East London from Durban?
459 km (285 mi) in a straight line, south-west of Durban.
How long does it take to get from Durban to East London by air?
About 1 h 20 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between Durban and East London?
No, both are on Africa/Johannesburg at the moment.
Which airports are used for Durban to East London flights?
Typically King Shaka International Airport (DUR) to King Phalo Airport (ELS).
Where can I stay in East London?
Our booking partner lists 380 places to stay in East London, bookable on this site.
Where these facts come from
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, elevation, time zone, postal codes
- Wikidata (CC0): area, sister cities, visitor numbers, heritage listings, stations and ports
- OurAirports (public domain): airports, runways
- Natural Earth (public domain): map outlines
Data compiled 14 September 2026. Hotel and hostel figures are from our booking partner’s catalogue on that date. Journey times on this page are estimates from distance, not timetables; check the operator before you rely on one.