JNB · Johannesburg, South Africa · International Hub
O. R. Tambo International Airport Guide
Terminals, minimum connection times, ground transport, parking, lounges, and layover advice for O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), sourced from the airport or the operator that runs each service, with minimums from OAG data.
Quick answer
- Terminals: 2 terminals
- Minimum connection time: 1 hr domestic, 1 hr 30 min international to domestic
- Arrive: Follow your airline's check-in deadline
- Free WiFi: Yes · Showers: Yes
Map
Terminals & connections
O. R. Tambo International Airport has 2 terminals. Transfer system: A single connected complex: Terminal A (international) and Terminal B (domestic) joined through the Central Terminal Building. South African Airways is the hub carrier. A domestic-to-international or international-to-domestic connection crosses South African immigration and customs. OAG floors are 60 domestic-to-domestic, 90 domestic-to-international, 90 international-to-domestic, and 60 international-to-international. The shape is the story: international-to-international (60) is lower than the domestic-to-international and international-to-domestic floors (90), because any move between the domestic and international sides crosses immigration and customs. O. R. Tambo is the main gateway to Southern Africa and South African Airways' hub, linking long-haul flights from Europe, the Gulf and beyond with the regional African network.
Terminal A (International)
4 airlines: Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways, Lufthansa
International flights, including South African Airways and the long-haul carriers linking Johannesburg with Europe, the Gulf and the rest of Africa. Joined to the domestic Terminal B through the Central Terminal Building.
Terminal B (Domestic)
Domestic flights across South Africa. Connected to Terminal A through the Central Terminal Building; a domestic-to-international move crosses immigration and customs.
Minimum connection times
- Domestic to domestic
- 1 hr
- Domestic to international
- 1 hr 30 min
- International to domestic
- 1 hr 30 min
- International to international
- 1 hr
- Transfer system
- A single connected complex: Terminal A (international) and Terminal B (domestic) joined through the Central Terminal Building. South African Airways is the hub carrier. A domestic-to-international or international-to-domestic connection crosses South African immigration and customs.
- Airside connected
- Not published
Layover helper
Find how long to plan for a connection at JNB: the official minimum connection time, plus a comfortable time of 30 minutes more, or 60 more when you clear customs or go through security again after a terminal change. Adjust trip type, terminal change, and checked-bag assumptions to match your itinerary.
Writing about JNB? Embed this connection time calculator on your site
Security & TSA
Security waits at JNB vary by time of day and checkpoint. We have not confirmed a standard arrival time published by JNB, so follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines.
- TSA PreCheck
- Not available
- CLEAR
- Not available
- Global Entry
- Not available
No US preclearance or US programs. International arrivals clear South African immigration and customs. A domestic-to-international move crosses the border.
Lounges
2 notable lounges at JNB, including airline-branded clubs and third-party options accessible via Priority Pass or day-pass. Check your credit card benefits (Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Capital One Venture X) before paying a day-pass fee.
South African Airways Lounge
Terminal A (International)South African Airways / Star Alliance
Access: Business, Voyager elite, Star Gold
Amenities: Buffet, Bar, Wi-Fi, Showers
Bidvest Premier Lounge
Terminal A and Terminal BContract / card-access
Access: Priority Pass, eligible cards, paid day pass
Amenities: Buffet, Bar, Wi-Fi
Amenities
6 of 7 core amenities available at JNB: showers, free WiFi, nursing rooms, chapel, pharmacy, pet relief. Free WiFi quality is rated good. Dining options span 1 terminal.
Showers
Available
Premium lounges
Sleep pods
Not available
WiFi
Free (good)
Free wifi in the terminals
Nursing rooms
Available
Terminals
Chapel
Available
Prayer rooms
Pet relief areas
Available
Pet relief areas
Dining highlights
Central Terminal Building: South African cafes, Grill restaurants
Ground transport to Johannesburg
No official source we checked publishes a ride time from JNB to downtown Johannesburg.
| Option | Cost | Time |
|---|---|---|
Gautrain (to Sandton) Train The Gautrain station is linked directly to the departures level of the Central Terminal Building. A single fare to Sandton is R228 (about $13); the line also serves Rosebank, Park and Pretoria. Gautrain does not publish a journey time on its fare or station pages. | $13 | Varies |
Taxi / e-hailing Taxi Metered taxi or e-hailing to Sandton or central Johannesburg. No official fare or ride time is published. | Varies | Varies |
Parking
JNB does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; on-airport parking is priced dynamically by date and lot. Foreign airport; parking rates not independently verified. South Africa prices in ZAR via airports.co.za.
- Short-term
- Varies
- Long-term
- Varies
- Economy
- Not published
- Valet
- Not published
Can I leave JNB during a layover?
With a 3-hour layover, stay inside JNB. With 6+ hours, you have time to see part of Johannesburg.
Sandton, Johannesburg's main business district, is on the Gautrain, which links directly to the terminal; no official journey time is published, so check the Gautrain trip planner for the live time. Re-entering South Africa means clearing immigration.
Overnight layover hotels
- $$$InterContinental Johannesburg O. R. Tambo AirportOn-airport
Frequently asked questions
How early should I arrive at JNB?
We have not confirmed a standard arrival time published by O. R. Tambo International Airport, so follow your airline's check-in and bag-drop deadlines. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint, so add buffer at busy times.
What is the minimum connection time at JNB?
JNB requires at least 60 minutes for domestic-to-domestic connections and 90 minutes for international-to-domestic connections. Transfer system: A single connected complex: Terminal A (international) and Terminal B (domestic) joined through the Central Terminal Building. South African Airways is the hub carrier. A domestic-to-international or international-to-domestic connection crosses South African immigration and customs.
How long does it take to get between terminals at JNB?
We have no officially published terminal-to-terminal transfer time for JNB, so plan around the minimum connection time and add time for the terminal change.
Can I leave JNB during a 6-hour layover?
With 3 hours you should stay inside JNB. A 6-hour layover is enough to leave the airport briefly. Sandton, Johannesburg's main business district, is on the Gautrain, which links directly to the terminal; no official journey time is published, so check the Gautrain trip planner for the live time. Re-entering South Africa means clearing immigration.
Does JNB have showers?
Yes, JNB has showers at Premium lounges.
Does JNB have sleep pods?
JNB does not have dedicated sleep pods. Check premium airline lounges for quiet rooms.
Is WiFi free at JNB?
Yes. JNB offers free WiFi throughout the airport. Free wifi in the terminals
What is the cheapest way to get from JNB to Johannesburg?
The cheapest option is typically Gautrain (to Sandton) at $13, taking a variable amount of time. The Gautrain station is linked directly to the departures level of the Central Terminal Building. A single fare to Sandton is R228 (about $13); the line also serves Rosebank, Park and Pretoria. Gautrain does not publish a journey time on its fare or station pages.
Is there TSA PreCheck and CLEAR at JNB?
JNB does not support TSA PreCheck and does not have CLEAR. Security waits vary by time of day and checkpoint. No US preclearance or US programs. International arrivals clear South African immigration and customs. A domestic-to-international move crosses the border.
Where should I eat at JNB during a layover?
Notable dining at JNB includes South African cafes (Central Terminal Building), Grill restaurants (Central Terminal Building).
How much does parking cost at JNB?
JNB does not publish a fixed daily parking rate; rates are set dynamically by date and lot. Foreign airport; parking rates not independently verified. South Africa prices in ZAR via airports.co.za.
Is there a hotel at JNB for overnight layovers?
Yes. InterContinental Johannesburg O. R. Tambo Airport is on-airport (On-airport) in the $$$ price band. This is the easiest option for overnight layovers or early-morning departures since you can reach the terminal on foot without a shuttle or rideshare.
Which terminal does my airline use at JNB?
JNB has 2 terminals. Major airline assignments: Terminal A (International): Emirates, Qatar Airways, British Airways. Confirm with your boarding pass before arrival since a few airlines operate from multiple terminals depending on route.
Are there pet relief areas at JNB?
Yes. Pet relief areas.
Is there a chapel or prayer room at JNB?
Yes. Prayer rooms.
Compare JNB to other airports
See how JNB ranks against the other 111 airports in our dataset.
More on Johannesburg and JNB
Go deeper on connecting through JNB and on visiting Johannesburg.
Airlines operating at JNB
Look up baggage policies for any airline flying out of JNB.
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Sources & verification
- Overview: https://www.airports.co.za/airports/or-tambo-international-airport
- Terminals: https://www.airports.co.za/airports/or-tambo-international-airport/the-airport/shops-facilities
- Connection times: https://www.expertflyer.com/air/travel-information
- Security: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/trusted-traveler-programs/global-entry/airports-with-global-entry
- Ground transport: https://bombelacontent.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/Fares+Effective+01+September+2026.pdf
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._R._Tambo_International_Airport
Connection times, security and ground transport verified Oct 2026 against the sources above. Parking, amenities, lounges and nearby hotels without a listed source are not yet verified. Always confirm with O. R. Tambo International Airport before flying.
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