Johannesburg International Airport Parking

O.R Tambo International Airport is the largest in Africa, and the main hub for South African Airline companies. The airport is located in the capital city of the country, Johannesburg, and was formerly known as Jan Smuts Airport, and later as Johannesburg International Airport. The new name of the airport is in honor of Oliver Reginald Tambo, who was a past President of the South African National Congress, and who was an activist against apartheid in South Africa. There are extensive facilities for arriving and departing passengers at Johannesburg’s airport, including a large number of parking spaces.

O.R Tambo International Airport is located in the Kempton Park region of Johannesburg, and is easily accessed by the major highways of the R24 from the city center, and the R21 from Pretoria. The airport is approximately 19 km from the city of Jo’burg, and 40 km from Pretoria. Motorists should always allow plenty of time to reach the airport, as traffic can be heavily congested during rush hours. At other times of the day or night, the airport is about a half an hours journey from Johannesburg, and about 45 minutes from Pretoria. O.R Tambo Airport is also nearby Boksburg, Benoni and Germiston. Motorists should keep in mind that many of the parking areas are quite far from the terminal buildings, and require a bus for transport to the departure areas. Sufficient time is therefore needed for this aspect as well.

At Johannesburg Airport, passengers may still be dropped off at the curbside of the international and domestic arrival terminals. These are areas which are dedicated as ‘drop-off’ zones, and are convenient for a quick offload of passengers and their luggage. Cars should however never be left unattended in these areas, as they will be towed away. This is due to security precautions taken at the airport. Motorists may also not park for any length of time while waiting for arriving passengers in this area. Fines can be issued to drivers who are using the area as a convenient parking space. Vehicles waiting for arriving passengers can use the new ‘Pick up and go’ parking facility, which can be found opposite the international arrivals terminal. The first five minutes of parking in this area is for free. Otherwise, the first fifteen minutes of parking in the other areas are for free.

South Africa was very proud to be the country nominated for hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup final tournament, and this large and exciting event was the reason for many upgrades and expansions within the airport buildings, railway stations and bus stations of the country. Cape Town International Airport and O.R Tambo International Airport received new Central Terminals, from where all their check-in processes are now handled, and renovations to other terminal buildings were made. O.R Tambo Airport now also has a new international pier, with more stands compatible for the larger Airbus A380 aircraft, and a new multi-storey parkade. Within this parking area, 5,200 parking spaces are available. The building of the parkade was completed in phases, allowing for parking areas to become immediately available, and appropriate for use before the whole building was completed.

Long-term parking facilities are found nearby O.R Tambo Airport, but do require a shuttle bus for transportation to the terminal buildings. This parking area is known as the Super South Gate Park and Ride, or low-cost parking area, and is based at Super South Gate. In order to reach this area, motorists should travel on the R21 towards Boksburg, in a southerly direction, and exit the highway via the Griffiths off-ramp. Turn left at this off-ramp and continue to the T-junction, from where motorists should turn right, and then left into the first street. This street is signposted as ‘ACSA Park 1’. At the end of the road, the parking entrance is on the left. Motorists with a satellite navigation system can use the co-ordinates of 26 9' 6" S, 28 13' 44" E, to reach the airport’s Super South Gate long-term parking area.

The shuttle bus which operates from this parking area, and between the terminal buildings at O.R Tambo Airport is operated by Big Sky. The buses run twenty-four hours a day, and are available every fifteen minutes to and from the Super South Gate parking area. This company can be contacted at +27 (0)11 979 3323, or their email address is gauteng@bigskycoaches.co.za or via http://www.bigskycoaches.co.za/.

Valet parking services are available at O.R Tambo International Airport, and these services are offered by Executive Carport. Passengers are advised to only use valet services of this company, as other valet operators may be an illegal or unauthorized service at the airport. As a result, cars may be impounded or ticketed. All vehicles should be dropped off on the upper roadway just after the Domestic Departures Terminal B. Directions to this area are indicated by orange-colored ‘Valet Parking’ signs. From this point, passengers can easily walk to the domestic departures terminal. Vehicles are then parked at a facility on the grounds of the airport, with 24 hour security. Vehicles are collected on the 4th floor of the multi-storey parkade, opposite the Domestic Terminal B. Whilst in the care of Executive Carport, services such as a wash and vacuum, and certain repairs and maintenance can be arranged. Payments for valet parking can be made by credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Diners Club), Garage cards or in cash. Further information about valet services can be found online, at http://www.executivecarport.com/.

O.R Tambo International Airport also offers special and reserved parking spaces for disabled passengers, located as nearby to the main sidewalks and terminals as possible.