O.R. Tambo International Airport

O.R. Tambo International Airport (FAOR/JNB) is a major African aviation hub serving Johannesburg and Pretoria in South Africa's Gauteng Province, and functions as the primary international gateway for the country and a key hub for regional and intercontinental traffic.

Situated at 5,558 feet elevation in Kempton Park, FAOR operates as a full-service international airport with scheduled airline service, charter operations, and significant general and business aviation activity. The airport's operational character reflects its role as Africa's second-busiest airport, serving as a continental connection point for scheduled carriers, fractional operators, and owner-flown business jets on regional African and intercontinental routes. Commercial and cargo airlines dominate scheduled operations, but the airport also accommodates corporate and charter departures, particularly from operators based in South Africa and those routing through the region.

The high elevation—at roughly 5,500 feet—is a factor for pilots planning performance-sensitive operations, especially during hot-season months (October through March) when density altitude can affect takeoff performance for certain aircraft classes. Standard business-jet classes, including light, midsize, and super-midsize jets, operate routinely from FAOR; longer-range services and heavy jets operate according to slot availability and runway capacity. The airport's infrastructure supports the mix of scheduled international flights, freight operations, and private aviation typical of a major sub-Saharan hub.

FAOR serves as the natural gateway for private aviation accessing the Johannesburg and Pretoria metropolitan area, the economic center of South Africa, and as a hub for onward flights throughout Southern and East Africa. Charter operators, fractional owners, and corporate flight departments use FAOR as a staging point for regional missions and as the primary base for South African and foreign-registered business aircraft. Crews and planners should expect international airport procedures, substantial scheduled and cargo traffic, and operational conditions consistent with a major international hub; flight planning and coordination through FBO services or handling agents well in advance is standard practice.

O. R. Tambo International Airport is an international airport serving the twin cities of Johannesburg and the main capital of South Africa, Pretoria. It is situated in Kempton Park, Gauteng. It serves as the primary airport for domestic and international travel for South Africa and since 2020, it is Africa's second busiest airport, with a capacity to handle up to 28 million passengers annually. The airport serves as the hub for South African Airways.