Johannesburg OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) stands out as the only African airport with regularly scheduled nonstop passenger flights to all six inhabited continents. It is the busiest airport in sub-Saharan Africa, serving as a major hub for connections across Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, and Oceania/Australia.
“South Africa is connected to all seven continents,” noted the release, highlighting special charter flights between Antarctica and Cape Town.
OR Tambo is one of three primary airports in South Africa and hosts over 30 international airlines. Its busiest routes are domestic, with frequent flights to Cape Town and Durban. Internationally, it connects passengers to Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, and other Southern African countries. As of January 2024, Johannesburg-Harare was the busiest international route.
Given its location in southern Africa, Johannesburg offers some of the continent’s longest nonstop flights. Destinations include Cairo with Egyptair and Accra with South African Airways.
Asia remains a significant connection point for Johannesburg with nonstop flights to China, Hong Kong, Qatar, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. The Dubai-Johannesburg route is notably busy with up to 21 weekly flights each way by Emirates.
In Europe, key cities like Amsterdam and London are directly connected to Johannesburg. “London Heathrow-OR Tambo is the busiest route,” states the report.
Flights from North America are limited but include daily services from Atlanta by Delta Air Lines and Newark by United Airlines. The longest nonstop flight from Atlanta measures 7,333 NM (13,581 km).
In South America routes are limited; however Sao Paulo-Johannesburg is served by LATAM Airlines four times a week.
Two direct routes connect Australia: Perth operated by South African Airways and Sydney operated by Qantas.
While no scheduled flights reach Antarctica from Johannesburg or any other African airport regularly “several companies offer charter flights for researchers.”
Johannesburg OR Tambo continues to be a crucial intercontinental connectivity hub within Africa despite efforts from other regional airports aiming to increase their air access.
