The airport is quite large and has two terminals - A and B. In reality, however, it is a single building divided into several parts, and movement around the airport is possible on foot.

Although it is a large airport, orientation is not difficult and you can get from one end to the other in 15 minutes.

Book a hotel near Johannesburg Airport

The airport does not have any satellite buildings in the middle of the airport area, where you would have to be transported by automated trains or buses.

• Terminal A
  • The section after security serves all international flights.
  • Check-in desks in the public section for these airlines: Air Botswana, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, Lufthansa, Malawi Airlines, South African Airways, Swiss

• Terminal B
  • the section after security check serves all domestic flights
  • Check-in counters in the public section for the following airlines: Air France, Air Mauritius, Airlink, CemAir, Condor, Emirates, FlySafair, KLM, LIFT, Proflight Zambia, United

If you are checking in at Terminal B for an international flight, the security checkpoint at Terminal A is only about a 3 minute walk away.

The section after security is quite spacious with lots of shops and restaurants. There are relatively plenty of seats at the departure gates and overall I rate Johannesburg airport as pleasant and comfortable.

Transfer between flights

With the airport having only one large building, transferring is very straightforward in Johannesburg.

International -> Domestic

When you get off the plane, follow the signs Domestic Transfer, which will take you to immigration control.

There are special counters for transferring passengers and queues vary between 15-30 minutes.

You will then collect your luggage, go through customs (within 5 minutes) and exit the transit area. You then walk through the concourse to Terminal B, where you check in your baggage and go through security.

• Normal transfer time - 50 to 75 minutes

Domestic -> International

After exiting the aircraft, head towards the exit out of the transit area.

If you have a connection purchased on one ticket, your baggage will be checked in from the point of departure to your destination and you will not worry about it when you transfer in Johannesburg.

You will proceed through the public area to Terminal A where you will go through passport and security control.

• Normal transfer time - 45 to 70 minutes

International <-> International

After you exit the plane, follow the signs International Transfer, which will take you to a special transit desk where you will get your passport stamped with the word "Transit".

This is not a traditional immigration check as you will not be formally entering South Africa, however, it is necessary to have blank pages in your passport.

This counter is followed by a security check.

If you are connecting on one ticket, your luggage will be checked through to your final destination and you will not collect it in Johannesburg.

• Normal transfer time - 30 to 45 minutes

In the international transit area, there is Protea Transit Hotel *** for connecting passengers only.

Domestic <-> Domestic

In Johannesburg, domestic passengers also have their own arrival corridor, so they have to go out into the public area and go through security again.

Your baggage will be checked through to your final destination.

• Normal transfer time - 15 to 25 minutes

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