Air Travel
International Aviation Standards
South Africa has extensive air connections worldwide and the country’s airports and domestic air network are of a high international standard. The aviation sector is undergoing significant expansion with the sustained growth of the business and leisure markets to and within South African. With the expected surge in demand for air travel during the FIFA tournaments, the aviation sector is well on track to accommodate the requirements of both local and travellers and visitors from abroad.
Intercontinental Flights
All continents have direct flights to Johannesburg, the hosting centre of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, provided by over 50 international airlines, from approximately 50 cities worldwide. There are also many direct flights to Cape Town, one of the main tourism centres. The warm marine city of Durban also has a main International Airport operating intercontinental flights.
Long haul air travel to South Africa is convenient, with the added advantage of sharing the same time zone as much of Europe.
African Continent
South Africa is the main hub of African air travel with around 800 flights per week into and out of the country, and direct connections with 15 other African countries.
International Direct Air Connections to South Africa
South Africa’s Airports
South Africa has three major international airports in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. All 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and World Cup host cities have an airport close by. The sketch below shows the country’s airports and the main passenger routes. All major airports in the country have had (or are undergoing) significant infrastructure expansions in a response to continuous volume growth, especially to meet the expected traffic volumes during the 2009 FCC and the 2010 FWC events.
The Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) is the operator of 10 of the country’s’ busiest airports including the three main international airports and handles over 18 million departing passengers annually and 200 000 aircraft landings. ACSA is completing a R6 billion (€0.55bn) airport-infrastructure expansion programme.
Airports and Domestic Air Passenger Routes
Domestic Air Network
A first class domestic aviation network connects all main cities in South Africa. Eight major domestic airlines as well as a number of smaller charter airlines operate in the country.
Busiest air routes are between Johannesburg and Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban, Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth and Cape Town and Durban.
The following tables provide guidelines on airports, frequency and times:
Typical Domestic Flights per Weekday (one-direction)
| Airport & Destination | Lanseria | Cape Town | Durban | Port Elizabeth | Bloemfontein | Polokwane | Nelspruit | East London | George |
| Johannesburg | 57 | 39 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 6 | |
| Cape Town | 5 | 18 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 4 | |||
| Durban | 3 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 |
Domestic Flights Headways, Weekdays (one-direction)
| Flight Frequency | Lanseria | Cape Town | Durban | Port Elizabeth | Bloemfontein | Polokwane | Nelspruit | East London | George |
| Johannesburg | 15mins | 20mins | 40mins | 70mins | 2 1/2 hrs | 2hrs | 80mins | 2hrs | |
| Cape Town | 2hrs | 40mins | Hourly | 2hrs | 2hrs | 3hrs | |||
| Durban | 4hrs | 100mins | 2 1/2 hrs | 3hrs | Daily |
Overview of the countries Airports
Oliver R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA)
ORTIA is the air transport hub of Southern Africa, catering for more than 9 million departing passengers each year and the site of a R3 billion expansion programme, now nearing completion. In April 2009 the airport’s central terminal building become operational. Next in line for completion is the airport’s extended international departure lounge and pier, additional aircraft stands and the passenger terminal for the Gautrain Rapid Rail designed to link the airport with Johannesburg and Pretoria city centres, less traffic.
Cape Town International Airport (CTIA)
CTIA is the country’s second airport with over 4 million departing passengers annually. The airport is being dramatically transformed through a R1bn redevelopment with the creation of a new central terminal, a new domestic arrivals terminal, a centralized retail mall, expanded parking and an improved road layout. The airport has doubled in growth in the last 5 years, and the current expansion will accommodate demands forecast for the next 10 years.
Durban International Airport (DIA) and La Mercy Airport
DIA handles over 2.3 million departing passengers per year. While terminal expansions have continued at Durban International, the new La Mercy International Airport to the north of the city is rapidly advancing. Services are expected to commence at the new airport by March 2010 after which a progressive relocation of operations to the much bigger airport will take place.
Other Airports
The national airports serving all other cities operate with significant spare capacity for additional flights and passenger volumes. The key airports serving host cities are listed below in order of current passenger volumes.
Key Airports by Passenger Volumes
