Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) is Africa’s only airport with regularly scheduled nonstop passenger flights to all six inhabited continents.
As sub-Saharan Africa’s busiest airport, it serves as a vital hub, connecting Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania.
Special charter flights link Cape Town to Antarctica, making South Africa connected to all seven continents.
Key International Routes
JNB supports extensive regional connectivity, with its busiest international routes serving African destinations such as Harare, Gaborone, Lusaka, Maputo, Windhoek, and Nairobi.
The Johannesburg-Harare route alone has up to 77 weekly flights, operated by airlines like South African Airways, Air Zimbabwe, and FlySafair.
Long-Haul Connections
Asia & Middle East: Johannesburg maintains direct flights to China, Hong Kong, Qatar, Singapore, and the UAE. The longest nonstop Asian route is from Shenzhen (10,678 km), operated by Air China’s Airbus A350-900. Dubai-Johannesburg is the busiest, with Emirates running up to 21 weekly flights.
Europe: Major airlines including British Airways, Lufthansa, KLM, and Air France offer nonstop flights to cities like London, Frankfurt, Amsterdam, and Paris. London Heathrow is the busiest route, with up to 19 weekly
flights.
North & South America: Delta and United Airlines operate direct flights from Atlanta and Newark, making these among Africa’s longest routes. LATAM and South African Airways provide links to São Paulo.
Australia/Oceania: Qantas serves Sydney with the Airbus A380, while South African Airways operates flights to Perth.
Antarctic Connections
Though there are no scheduled commercial flights, charter services operate from Cape Town to Antarctica, facilitating research missions and tourism.
Johannesburg OR Tambo remains Africa’s premier aviation hub, crucial for intercontinental travel and regional connectivity.
