Travelling from Johannesburg to East London Airport (ELS): What you need to know
Begin planning your trip by checking out the most convenient place to catch your flight from Johannesburg to East London Airport (ELS). Explore your options for leaving from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) or Lanseria International Airport (HLA), two of the city's main airports.
The average time for a direct Johannesburg to East London Airport flight is 1 hour 35 minutes.
East London's timezone is UTC+2, which is the same as Johannesburg. East London Airport is located in East London.
The most popular route is from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB) to East London Airport (ELS), with 45 direct weekly services. If you'd rather get moving right away, the earliest flight from JNB to ELS is the 7:20am Safair option. If you prefer travelling later, the last departure is at 6:05pm with Airlink (South Africa).
To ensure you catch your flight from Johannesburg to ELS, leave enough time to check in and find your gate. Turning up two hours ahead of international departures and one hour before domestic flights is the general rule.
Heading away during a peak period like school or public holidays? Expect longer queues at security and check-in. For peace of mind, arrive up to four hours before international flights and two hours before domestic departures.
Airports in Johannesburg
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)
You can take a direct flight from Johannesburg to East London Airport (ELS) departing from O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).
At JNB, there's a variety of airlines that offer direct flights from Johannesburg to East London Airport, such as:
Safair sees the most traveller bookings for flights from JNB to ELS.
With 78.7% of its services landing on schedule, Airlink (South Africa) is the most punctual carrier on this route.
The journey from central Johannesburg to JNB takes around 1 hour 10 minutes on public transport. If you drive, ride-share or take a cab, you'll cover the 29 kilometres in 30 minutes or so, depending on traffic conditions.
Planning to catch an early flight from Johannesburg to East London Airport? Avoid rushing to the terminal (and get some bonus sleep) by picking one of these stays close to O.R. Tambo International Airport:
When it comes to O.R. Tambo International Airport's on-time performance, 77.1% of flights arrive within the scheduled time frame.
Lanseria International Airport (HLA)
The drive from central Johannesburg to HLA usually takes 50 minutes, depending on traffic. The distance from the city centre to the airport is around 48 kilometres.
Want to treat yourself to an extra night away before your Johannesburg to ELS flight? Unwind in a hotel near Lanseria International Airport before your holiday officially starts. These stays have a room with your name on it:
About East London Airport (ELS)
If you have a late flight from Johannesburg to East London Airport, nothing tops the convenience of staying near the terminal. Grab your bags from the carousel and then be showered and sleeping soon after at one of these options near ELS:
Grab an East London Airport rental car and discover East London and beyond with your own wheels. U-Save, Green Motion and First - Car Hire are well-known companies to choose from here.
Get the best deal by booking your ride around three weeks before your Johannesburg to East London Airport flight.
How to find the cheapest flights from Johannesburg to East London Airport (ELS)
The cheapest price we've found for a one-way ticket from Johannesburg to East London Airport is 33 €. For a return flight on this route, the best price is 71 €. Depending on when you book and the availability, these fares may change.
To snag cheap flights from Johannesburg to ELS, book your ticket one month ahead of your planned departure.
Organise your trip for June. That's the best month for scoring an awesome deal on Johannesburg to East London Airport tickets. If you're flexible on when you fly, use the 'Whole month' tool to find the lowest price across every month.
Save time looking for cheap plane tickets from Johannesburg to ELS by setting up a Price Alert. We'll send you an email or notification through the app when a lower fare becomes available.
Find a cheap flight from Johannesburg to East London Airport by using the search filters. Choose your ideal times, airlines and number of stops, then sort the results by 'Cheapest' for the best deals.
The best time to fly from Johannesburg to East London Airport (ELS)
February is the quietest month for flights from Johannesburg to East London Airport (ELS), while July is the busiest. Find the best time to visit East London based on whether you like a bustling atmosphere or a more laid-back vibe.
The warmest month in East London is February, with temperatures ranging between 18ºC (64ºF) and 27ºC (81ºF). Lock in your Johannesburg to ELS plane ticket then if that's your idea of comfortable weather.
If you want cooler conditions, search for a cheap ticket from Johannesburg to East London Airport in July when temperatures are between 11ºC (52ºF) and 22ºC (72ºF).
More about East London
When it comes to searching for somewhere to rest your head, you'll find the most popular stays in East London right here. Check out these hotels as soon as you've booked your flight from Johannesburg to East London Airport:
All great adventures should include a little sightseeing. Orient Beach, Nahoon Reef and Eastern Beach are attractions you won't want to skip in East London.
Explore more of South Africa
Port Elizabeth is just one of the many cities in South Africa waiting to be explored after you've experienced East London. Around 225 kilometres away to the south-west, check out popular attractions including Mount Kilimanjaro, Kariega Game Reserve - Head Office and King's Beach.
Uitenhage is another must-experience destination in South Africa and is around 241 kilometres west of East London. No trip is complete without experiencing Volkswagen Factory and Museum, Volkswagen AutoPavillion, South Africa and Drostdy museum.