OR Tambo International Airport (JNB)
Tel: 011 921 6262.
Website: www.airports.co.za

Johannesburg's airport is located 19km (12 miles) east of the city centre. Handling over 11 million passengers each year, OR Tambo International Airport was until 2006 called Johannesburg International Airport, before it was renamed after anti-apartheid activist Oliver Reginald Tambo who died in 1993. It is Africa's busiest, and many say best airport with top-notch facilities and services. The Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has invested billions of Rand in upgrading facilities in the wake of South Africa being awarded the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Approximate flight times to Johannesburg: From London is 10 hours 45 minutes; from New York (via London) is 17 hours 45 minutes; from Los Angeles (via London) is 21 hours 15 minutes; from Toronto (via London) is 18 hours and from Sydney (via Perth) is 17 hours.

Airport facilities: These include 24-hour help phones, 24-hour medical clinic, Wi-Fi access, mobile phone and SIM card hire, bureaux de change, a 24-hour telephone centre, banks, ATMs, tourist information, post office, left luggage, car hire (Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz, Imperial and Tempest), an expansive duty-free area, shops, restaurants, bars, a chapel, Muslim prayer room and a 45-room transit hotel.

Business facilities: The Premier Conference Centre (tel: 011 390 1084) in the domestic terminal contains several conference rooms that can accommodate 10 to120 people, a media conference room and VIP facilities.

Transport to the city: Various shuttle bus services operate to and from the airport including the Magic Bus (tel: 011 548 0822; website: www.magicbus.co.za) and Airport Link (tel: 011 792 2017; website: www.airportlink.co.za). Both run minibuses to all destinations including hotels in the northern suburbs from R250-275 for the first person and R30-50 per extra passenger. If you haven't pre-booked a shuttle, then the desks of the shuttle companies are in the Parkade Centre opposite the domestic terminal. Alternatively, to get to the Park City Transit Centre on Rissik Street in the city centre (for onward trains and long-distance buses), as well as to all other locations within Johannesburg, enquire at the itram desks in all the luggage collection areas (tel: 011 390 1275; website: www.itram.co.za). Except during rush hours (0700-0900 and 1600-1800), when there can be serious delays, the trip to Park City Transit Centre takes about 40 minutes, while central Sandton is 50 minutes and Midrand 45 minutes. Most luxury and business hotels, if notified in advance, provide transport to and from the airport, and the nearest hotels to the airport provide courtesy buses that are found outside the international terminal.

Taking a taxi from the airport may be quicker than a shuttle bus but it's more expensive and visitors should make sure the driver knows exactly where to go before setting off. Taxis that are airport approved will display a green, yellow and white sticker. Taxis are metered and cost at least R300-400 for anywhere within Johannesburg.