East London to Mthatha flights
Mthatha lies 179 km (111 mi) north-east of East London, in the same time zone. What the numbers say about getting there, and where to book.
A nonstop flight would take about 59 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.
| East London | Mthatha | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | South Africa | South Africa |
| Population | 478,676 | 164,848 |
| Elevation | 48 m (157 ft) | 694 m (2,277 ft) |
| Time now | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) | UTC+2 (Africa/Johannesburg) |
| Nearest large airport | ELS, 8 km out | UTT, 12 km out |
Airports at each end
Leaving 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.
Arriving in Mthatha
Mthatha is served by one airport with scheduled flights. The closest large one is K. D. Matanzima Airport (UTT), 12 km (7 mi) from the centre, with a longest runway of 8,530 ft, which limits it to short and medium-haul aircraft.
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K. D. Matanzima Airport (regional) | UTT | 12 km (7 mi) | 8,530 ft | 2,400 ft |
Book a flight to Mthatha
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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 Mthatha
Live rooms and prices for Mthatha are in the search below.
Book a hotel in Mthatha
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Common questions
How far is Mthatha from East London?
179 km (111 mi) in a straight line, north-east of East London.
How long does it take to get from East London to Mthatha by air?
About 59 min, estimated from distance and typical speeds for a nonstop flight. Timetables and traffic decide the real figure.
Is there a time difference between East London and Mthatha?
No, both are on Africa/Johannesburg at the moment.
Which airports are used for East London to Mthatha flights?
Typically King Phalo Airport (ELS) to K. D. Matanzima Airport (UTT).
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 13 September 2026. Hotel 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.