Flights to Johannesburg
Which airport to land at, how far each is from the centre, and where the routes go. Live fares are booked here.
Johannesburg is served by 2 airports with scheduled flights within 100 km. The closest large one is O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), 21 km (13 mi) from the centre, whose 14,495-ft runway is long enough for long-haul wide-body aircraft. The alternatives are Lanseria International Airport (HLA, 32 km).
| Airport | Code | From centre | Longest runway | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O.R. Tambo International Airport | JNB | 21 km (13 mi) | 14,495 ft | 5,558 ft |
| Lanseria International Airport | HLA | 32 km (20 mi) | 10,000 ft | 4,517 ft |
Runway length is a practical tell: at 14,495 ft, JNB can take the largest long-haul aircraft, so direct intercontinental flights are physically possible here. The airport sits at 5,558 ft; that altitude thins the air enough to affect take-off performance on hot days, which is why summer departures from high airports are sometimes weight-restricted.
Book a flight to Johannesburg
Our airline partner is activating live fares for this site; the search below opens the moment that is done. Hotels can be booked now.
Routes to and from Johannesburg
Straight-line distance and an estimated block time for the city pairs people search for most. Each opens a page with both ends’ airports, the time-zone shift and what changes on arrival.
| Route | Country | Distance | Estimated time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg to Cape Town | South Africa | 1,262 km (784 mi) | about 2 h 22 min |
| Johannesburg to Durban | South Africa | 501 km (311 mi) | about 1 h 24 min |
| Johannesburg to Lusaka | Zambia | 1,201 km (746 mi) | about 2 h 17 min |
| Johannesburg to Harare | Zimbabwe | 981 km (610 mi) | about 2 h |
| Johannesburg to Maputo | Mozambique | 454 km (282 mi) | about 1 h 20 min |
| Johannesburg to Matola | Mozambique | 442 km (274 mi) | about 1 h 19 min |
| Johannesburg to Lilongwe | Malawi | 1,486 km (923 mi) | about 2 h 39 min |
| Johannesburg to Gqeberha | South Africa | 894 km (555 mi) | about 1 h 54 min |
| Johannesburg to Blantyre | Malawi | 1,365 km (848 mi) | about 2 h 30 min |
| Johannesburg to Pietermaritzburg | South Africa | 444 km (276 mi) | about 1 h 19 min |
| Johannesburg to Beira | Mozambique | 991 km (616 mi) | about 2 h 1 min |
| Johannesburg to Kitwe | Zambia | 1,490 km (926 mi) | about 2 h 40 min |
| Johannesburg to Bulawayo | Zimbabwe | 675 km (420 mi) | about 1 h 37 min |
| Johannesburg to Ndola | Zambia | 1,474 km (916 mi) | about 2 h 38 min |
| Johannesburg to Bloemfontein | South Africa | 371 km (231 mi) | about 1 h 14 min |
| Johannesburg to East London | South Africa | 758 km (471 mi) | about 1 h 43 min |
| Johannesburg to Chimoio | Mozambique | 965 km (600 mi) | about 1 h 59 min |
| Johannesburg to Windhoek | Namibia | 1,181 km (734 mi) | about 2 h 16 min |
| Johannesburg to Chitungwiza | Zimbabwe | 963 km (598 mi) | about 1 h 59 min |
| Johannesburg to Maseru | Lesotho | 351 km (218 mi) | about 1 h 12 min |
| Johannesburg to Tete | Mozambique | 1,256 km (780 mi) | about 2 h 22 min |
| Johannesburg to Quelimane | Mozambique | 1,298 km (807 mi) | about 2 h 25 min |
| Johannesburg to São Paulo | Brazil | 7,429 km (4,616 mi) | about 10 h 16 min |
| Johannesburg to Rio de Janeiro | Brazil | 7,120 km (4,424 mi) | about 9 h 53 min |
| Johannesburg to Sydney | Australia | 11,041 km (6,860 mi) | about 14 h 54 min |
| Johannesburg to Melbourne | Australia | 10,328 km (6,417 mi) | about 13 h 59 min |
| Johannesburg to Santiago | Chile | 9,175 km (5,701 mi) | about 12 h 31 min |
| Johannesburg to Buenos Aires | Argentina | 8,087 km (5,025 mi) | about 11 h 7 min |
| Johannesburg to Brisbane | Australia | 11,636 km (7,230 mi) | about 15 h 40 min |
| Johannesburg to Belo Horizonte | Brazil | 7,306 km (4,540 mi) | about 10 h 7 min |
Distances are straight-line; road and rail routes run about 15–25% longer. Times are estimates from distance and typical speeds, not timetables.
Common questions
Which airport should I fly into for Johannesburg?
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) is the closest large airport at 21 km (13 mi). The others, HLA, are further out and worth it only when the fare or the airline makes them so.
How far is JNB from Johannesburg city centre?
21 km (13 mi) in a straight line; the road or rail distance is somewhat longer.
Can I book flights to Johannesburg on this site?
Very soon: our airline partner is switching live fares on for this site. Hotels can be booked now.
How are the journey times on this page worked out?
From straight-line distance and typical speeds for each mode, so they are estimates for planning, not timetables. Road and rail routes run 15–25% longer than the straight line.
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.