Guide to Johannesburg International Airport

• Posted by: Editor
• On: 07/08/2008 14:33:48
• In: South Africa Car Hire

The airport is constantly expanding and you will probably find construction work in progress, the current big project is an additional International Terminal. This airport has been renamed twice in the last couple of decades; some people still refer to it by its older names Johannesburg International Airport or Jan Smuts International Airport.

Get out of Johannesburg International Airport
If you are renting a car you will find the car rental desks located in the multi-storey car park opposite the Domestic Terminal. Once you have your car and you are exiting the airport you will have the option of heading north on the R21 towards Pretoria, Mpumalanga and Kruger National Park; or head west on the R24 towards Johannesburg.

If you are not renting a car in the airport you can find the taxi and bus rank behind the car rental desks. You will also find the Magic Bus Airport Transfers which offer a shuttle bus service to Johannesburg or Pretoria.

Getting to Johannesburg International Airport
If you are returning your South African car rental to the airport you can simply drive to the airport which is located in Kempton Park about 20km east of downtown Johannesburg.

The airport is located at the intersection of the R21 and R24 freeways. From Johannesburg, follow the R24 east and take exit 46; from Pretoria, follow the R21 south and take exit 46. The airport is well signposted so you shouldn’t have any trouble.

What is in Johannesburg International Airport?
There are six terminals at the airport, but these are split between the international terminal; the domestic terminal; and the transit terminal. This transit terminal is currently being demolished and rebuilt into a new Central Terminal with a central passenger check-in area and more gates.

In addition to the new Central Terminal there are new car parks, a new train terminal and a few other upgrades being built at the airport. These are coming online whenever they are ready so the facilities will be changing as time goes on.

Everything you would expect from a large international airport is catered for. There are ATMs, banks and bureaux de change at the airport, as well as a post office. Mobile telephone hire is also available. Wireless Internet access is available in the International Departures area.

There are also plenty of places to eat and drink. Food outlets include Spur Family Restaurant, Cafe Rossini, Juicy Lucy, Nando's, Salmon House, Steers, Debonairs Pizza, Ocean Basket Seafood and McGinty's Pub & Restaurant. Other facilities include a 24-hour medical clinic, a chapel, an Islamic prayer room and baby change facilities.

Airport information desks are located in International Arrivals and Departures, and Domestic Arrivals. Information and flight details are available via the airport helpdesk. The Gauteng Tourism Authority Information Desk is situated in the International Arrivals Terminal.

OR Tambo International Airport also serves as grounds for the South African Airways Museum, a room filled with South African Airways memorabilia and which started as an idea by two fans of the airline until they could set it up in one of Jan Smuts International's buildings in 1987.

That’s the end of our quick overview of what you can expect in the airport; so why not check out our Johannesburg International Airport homepage. For more ideas for activities that a look at our other Car Hire South Africa blogs.

If you have any tips about dealing with Johannesburg International Airport or any further questions then we’d be more than happy to see them so please leave your message in the comment box below.