Located in Kempton Park, Gauteng, approximately 20 kilometres northeast of Johannesburg Central, O. R. Tambo International Airport serves as South Africa's primary domestic and international hub. Sitting at an elevation of 1,700 metres above sea level, this hot and high airport features two long parallel runways to accommodate thin air conditions. Operating as Africa's second busiest airport, it has the capacity to handle up to 28 million passengers annually.
The airport complex comprises six terminals divided across international, domestic, and transit areas, anchored by a modern Central Terminal Building that connects passenger flows seamlessly. It serves as the primary hub for South African Airways. Major global carriers operate alongside regional airlines across these facilities, utilizing nine separate aprons, airside corridors, and specialized contact stands designed to accommodate large wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A380.
01 Terminals & concourses
Handles international passengers and offers expanded departure space along with airside corridor access.
Used for all check-ins by several major national and international airlines.
Provides an indoor connection between domestic and international terminals, housing central check-in areas, retail, and direct train access.
Airport map
The free OpenStreetMap layer below shows the whole airport — terminals, concourses, access roads and the parking garages. Zoom in for gate-level detail.
Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL, free). Official gate/terminal maps are copyrighted — we link to them.
02 Which terminal does my airline use?
Airlines are grouped by alliance and region. Always confirm the concourse printed on your boarding pass — assignments can change seasonally.
Show all airlines by terminal ›
Grouped by terminal — check the concourse on your boarding pass before you fly; assignments can change seasonally.
Lost, delayed or damaged baggage at JNB
If your checked bag doesn't turn up on the belt, act before you leave the baggage-claim area — that's where every airline keeps its Baggage Service Office.
- Go to your airline's Baggage Service Office in the baggage-claim hall of your arrival terminal.
- File a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) and get your file reference (WorldTracer) number. Keep your bag-tag receipt and boarding pass.
- Track it online using that reference on your airline's baggage-tracking page — most bags are located within 24–48 hours.
- Claim your essentials. On delayed bags airlines reimburse reasonable interim purchases (toiletries, clothing) — keep receipts. International trips are covered by the Montreal Convention.
- If it's truly lost (generally after 21 days) or damaged, file the claim at the same office — damage must be reported before you leave the airport.
Left something in the terminal (not a checked bag)? That's handled by the airport Lost & Found. Items left at a TSA security checkpoint are held by the TSA, not the airline.
03 Getting to & from JNB
These are the ground-transport options connecting the airport with the city. Fares and schedules change — check the operator before you travel.
| Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Rail transit | The Gautrain rapid rail link features a station directly in the terminal, connecting travellers to Sandton, Pretoria, and Johannesburg CBD. |
| Car | Accessible 20 kilometres northeast of Johannesburg Central via the R24 Airport Freeway and the R21 highway from Pretoria. |
| Bus | Metrobus and Putco operate city lines passing twice daily, supplemented by private express buses to Johannesburg CBD. |
04 Lounges & amenities
Passenger lounges and holding areas are situated on the upper level of the International Pier structure.