Founded in 1952,O.R. Tambo International Airport has been renovated and redesigned many times.
THE AIRPORT
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB),Johannesburg,South Africa
THE FLIGHTS
QF63 from Sydney,QF64 back to Sydney
THE ARRIVAL
Renamed in 2006 after one of the heroes of the anti-apartheid movement,the late politician and president of the African national Congress (ANC) Oliver Tambo,arrival here is straightforward,with only a bit of queueing to get through customs. Then it's straight into the arrivals hall,with some good cafes to sit and wait if your lift into the city is late – and no shortage of taxi drivers interested in bargaining for your custom if that lift never materialises.
THE LOOK
Founded in 1952,it's been renovated and redesigned many times since and these days has a series of gentle slopes (as well as lifts and escalators) curving around a central atrium,which really breaks up the distances. It's over four levels but clear signs with how many minutes it will take to walk to each destination help make the atmosphere much more relaxed than you'd imagine for what – pre-COVID-19 – was Africa's busiest airport,handling 28 million passengers annually.
CHECK-IN