Air Access in Gauteng: OR Tambo, Lanseria and New Summer Routes

Flying in or out of Gauteng this festive season? You’ll have more choice than last year. From 15 November, Airlink starts the first scheduled flights between Lanseria and Harare. From 4 December, it adds two return flights a day between Cape Town and Lanseria. OR Tambo is midway through a R14,5 billion upgrade, and visitors from a growing list of countries can now apply online for permission to travel to South Africa.

With October’s Transport Month shining a light on how Gauteng moves, here’s what you need to know about the province’s airports: which one to fly from, how to get there without overpaying, what’s new this summer and what’s planned for the future.

Gauteng’s Airports At A Glance

“Air access” is the term transport planners use for how easily people and goods can reach a place by air. It covers the airports, the airlines and routes, how often flights operate and how easily travellers can get to and from the terminal. For Gauteng, the country’s economic heartland, it’s one of the main front doors to South Africa. That’s why it features in Transport Month, which was first launched in October 2005. This year Gauteng’s programme runs under the theme “Moving Gauteng Forward: Safer Roads, Smarter Mobility, Greener Transport”.

OR Tambo, Lanseria And Wonderboom: What Each Airport Offers

OR Tambo International Airport (Ekurhuleni)

OR Tambo is South Africa’s busiest airport and its main international gateway. It handles more than 21 million passengers a year and connects Gauteng to Southern Africa, the rest of the continent, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas. It’s also one of the busiest airports in Africa. Aviation data firm OAG ranked it second on the continent for departing seats in December 2025, behind Cairo International.

OR Tambo is one end of Africa’s busiest air route. According to IATA’s World Air Transport Statistics, 3,4 million passengers flew between OR Tambo and Cape Town International in 2025, making it the busiest airport pair on the continent.

The airport is in the middle of a R14,5 billion, five-year upgrade programme that started in December 2024. Here’s what you’ll notice as a passenger:

• refurbished or replaced escalators, travelators and lifts
• new ergonomic seating and clearer signage
• tiles replacing carpets at international boarding gates
• upgraded terminal bathrooms. Phase 1 modernised 90 toilets, and Phase 2, covering 780 toilets, was scheduled to start in July 2026.

Expect some areas to be cordoned off while work is under way, so give yourself extra time to find your gate.

A Digital Welcome: The Electronic Travel Authorisation

On 12 August 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa launched South Africa’s Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) at OR Tambo, where most international visitors first arrive in the country.

The ETA is a digital travel permit for eligible visitors. Instead of applying for a paper visa at an embassy, travellers apply online before they leave home. The system uses biometric verification, machine learning and the upgraded Electronic Movement Control System (eMCS 2.0) to screen travellers before they reach the border.

The ETA was first introduced for travellers from four G20 source markets during South Africa’s G20 Presidency: China, India, Indonesia and Mexico. It has since been extended to more countries. Later phases will bring work visas, study visas and other immigration categories online. President Ramaphosa described the ETA as part of government’s reforms to remove barriers to growth, investment and job creation.

Why it matters to you: if friends or family from abroad plan to visit you this summer, ask them to check whether they’re eligible and to apply only through the official Home Affairs platform at eta.dha.gov.za. An approved ETA doesn’t guarantee entry, because immigration officers make the final decision at the border. For the basics, read our ETA explainer for international travellers.

ALSO READ: Transport Month 2026: How Better Mobility Supports Tourism, Local Businesses And Economic Growth In Gauteng

Lanseria International Airport (North-West Of Johannesburg)

Lanseria sits north of Randburg and Sandton and is South Africa’s only privately owned international airport. It handles about 1,9 million passengers a year. FlySafair is currently its main scheduled airline, flying to Cape Town, Durban, George and Gqeberha, and Airlink joins with its new routes from November.

The airport is growing. It’s rehabilitating its main Alpha taxiway, has a five-year hangar refurbishment programme under way and is developing a dedicated air cargo precinct, a ten-year project to turn Lanseria into a regional logistics hub. It expects passenger numbers to pass 4 million a year by 2032.

Wonderboom National Airport (Pretoria)

Wonderboom, north of Pretoria, is mainly used for general aviation, flight training and events such as airshows. Scheduled flights between Pretoria and Cape Town were suspended in 2018 because of financial constraints, so Pretoria residents currently fly from OR Tambo or Lanseria.

The City of Tshwane wants to bring commercial flights back. It’s working on a master plan to revive the airport and has said Wonderboom needs about R7,2 billion to turn it around and grow. The city has also said it won’t sell the airport’s assets and will look for investors instead.

Other Airfields

Rand Airport in Germiston and Grand Central Airport in Midrand mainly serve private flights, charters, flight schools and aviation businesses. You’re most likely to use them for a charter flight, a flying lesson or an aviation event.

Which Airport Should You Fly From?

For most trips, your choice comes down to OR Tambo or Lanseria. Here’s how to decide.

Choose OR Tambo if:

• you’re flying internationally, other than to Harare once the Lanseria route starts
• you want the widest choice of airlines, routes and flight times
• you live in the east or south of the province, such as Ekurhuleni, Johannesburg South, Midrand or Pretoria East
• you’d like to use the Gautrain to get to the airport.

Choose Lanseria if:

• you live in the north or west of Johannesburg, the West Rand, Pretoria West or near Hartbeespoort
• you’re flying FlySafair to Cape Town, Durban, George or Gqeberha, or Airlink to Harare or Cape Town once those routes start
• you’d prefer a smaller terminal with shorter walks and usually shorter queues.

Lanseria has no Gautrain link, so you’ll need a car, an e-hailing ride, a shuttle or a lift. Check that your flight leaves from the airport you think it does. Some airlines fly the Johannesburg to Cape Town route from both airports.

Getting To And From OR Tambo: What It Costs

Getting to the airport can cost almost as much as a budget flight if you don’t plan ahead. These are typical costs between OR Tambo and Sandton:

These are estimates. E-hailing prices surge at busy times, and Gautrain fares depend on the route.

Gautrain: The station is inside the OR Tambo precinct, and Sandton is about 15 minutes away. From there you can connect to Rosebank, Park Station, Pretoria and Hatfield. Gautrain didn’t put through its usual annual fare increase on 1 June 2026, so fares stay unchanged for 2026. You can pay with a Gautrain Card or a contactless bank card. The Gautrain doesn’t run late at night. The last airport trains leave at about 20:30 on weekdays and earlier on weekends and public holidays.

E-hailing: Uber and Bolt pickups are in the e-hailing zone in the multi-storey parkade, not at the terminal doors.

Metered taxis: Use the official rank outside arrivals, and avoid unmarked vehicles.

Driving and parking: Short-term parking costs about R230 for 12 to 24 hours. That adds up fast on a longer trip, so pre-book long-stay parking on the ACSA app. Pre-booking can cut parking costs by up to 60%.

New Routes Landing This Summer

• Lanseria to Harare: Airlink launches three flights a week from 15 November 2026, the first scheduled airline service between the two cities. Flights leave Lanseria at 07:00 on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and return from Harare on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. If you visit family in Zimbabwe over the holidays, this could save you the drive to OR Tambo.
• Cape Town to Lanseria: Airlink starts two return flights a day from 4 December 2026. It’s the airline’s first scheduled domestic route into Lanseria, and it increases to four daily return flights from 22 March 2027. Along with FlySafair’s service, that means more choice and competition on the Lanseria to Cape Town route.
• Johannesburg to Ndola, Zambia: Since 30 March 2026, Airlink has added a second flight three times a week alongside its existing daily service between OR Tambo and Ndola, in Zambia’s Copperbelt.

Festive Season Flying: Tips For A Smoother Trip

December is the busiest time of year at Gauteng’s airports. A little planning saves a lot of stress.

• Arrive early. Aim to be at the airport two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight, and earlier still in peak season.
• Check in online. Most airlines open online check-in 24 hours before departure. You may still need to drop off checked bags at the counter, so don’t cut it fine.
• Know your terminal. OR Tambo has separate domestic and international areas, and road works can change drop-off points. Check your airline’s terminal before you leave home.
• Plan your late-night ride. If you land after the last Gautrain, book a transfer or have your e-hailing app ready before you land.
• Pre-book parking. If you’re driving, book long-stay parking ahead on the ACSA app rather than paying short-term rates.
• Check the ETA for overseas visitors. If someone is visiting you from abroad, make sure they’ve checked their entry requirements well before they fly.

Why Air Access Matters For Gauteng

More flights mean more visitors, and more visitors mean more spending in local hotels, restaurants, attractions and shops. According to Stats SA, South Africa recorded 3 899 358 international tourist arrivals between January and April 2026, up 14,1% on the same period in 2025. April alone saw 989 329 arrivals, up 19,5%. These figures count arrivals through all ports of entry, not only airports.

For Gauteng, strong air access supports:

• Tourism: visitors can reach the province easily and use it as a base to explore the rest of the country.
• Business and events: conferences, sporting events and concerts depend on people being able to fly in.
• Trade and logistics: air cargo moves high-value and time-sensitive goods.
• Jobs: airports support thousands of jobs, from ground staff and retail workers to shuttle and taxi drivers.

Looking Ahead

Bigger plans include a new Vaal International Airport, part of a smart city and special economic zone planned along the Vaal River in southern Gauteng. Once complete, it’s expected to handle 7,2 million passengers and 150 000 tonnes of freight a year, although it’s still a long-term project.

Closer to home, the OR Tambo upgrades, Lanseria’s expansion and Tshwane’s plans for Wonderboom all point to more capacity and choice for Gauteng travellers over the next few years.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Main Airport In Gauteng?

OR Tambo International Airport in Ekurhuleni is Gauteng’s main airport. It’s the busiest airport in South Africa and one of the busiest in Africa, handling more than 21 million passengers a year.

How Many International Airports Does Gauteng Have?

Gauteng has two international airports with scheduled passenger flights: OR Tambo International and Lanseria International.

Should I Fly From OR Tambo Or Lanseria?

Fly from OR Tambo for international flights, the widest choice of airlines and Gautrain access. Lanseria is often more convenient if you live in the north or west of Johannesburg, the West Rand or Pretoria West, and it’s smaller and usually less congested.

How Do I Get From OR Tambo To Sandton?

The quickest way is the Gautrain, which takes about 15 minutes and costs about R220 one way. E-hailing costs roughly R250 to R450 and takes 30 to 60 minutes, depending on traffic.

How Early Should I Arrive At The Airport?

Arrive two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. Allow more time during the festive season.

Is There A Gautrain To Lanseria?

No. Lanseria has no Gautrain link, so you’ll need to travel by car, e-hailing, shuttle or a pre-booked transfer.

Are There Commercial Flights From Wonderboom Airport?

Not at the moment. Scheduled flights between Pretoria and Cape Town stopped in 2018. The City of Tshwane is working on plans to revive the airport and bring commercial routes back.

What Is The ETA?

The Electronic Travel Authorisation is South Africa’s digital travel permit for eligible visitors. President Ramaphosa launched it at OR Tambo on 12 August 2026. Travellers apply online through the official Home Affairs platform before they travel instead of applying for a paper visa.