O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA)

#O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA) O.R. Tambo International Airport (ORTIA), previously known as Johannesburg International Airport (JIA) and Jan Smuts Airport before that, is the air transport hub of Southern Africa, catering for over 17 million passengers each year (up from 12 million in 2002). It is the busiest airport in Africa and one of the 100 busiest in the world (www.airlinerworld.com).

The ORTIA hub hosts 45 airlines from all five continents. The Airport plays an important role in serving the air transport needs of Africa as a whole.

##High & dry ORTIA is regarded as a "high & dry" or "hot & high" airport. Not surprising if you realise that it lies ±1500m above sea-level. The Airport’s high location results in the air being thin and dry, which has definite implications for aircraft, especially really big and heavy ones... The increased energy requirements for take-off in thin air results in Boeing 747-400 and Airbus A340-600 flights to New York, for example, having to make a stop enroute to take on extra fuel - typically at Lagos, Dakar or Ilha do Sal. However, when flying in the opposite direction (New York to ORTIA), is a non-stop 14-hour flight because of increased performance of aircraft at sea level (thicker air). The Johannesburg to New York flight is the third-longest commercial flight in the world, after Singapore to Los Angeles and New York to Hong Kong. The Johannesburg to Cape Town air corridor is one of the ten busiest in the world.

##Runways ORTIA has two main runways in use, of which he longest is 4.4km in length. They lie parallel to each other and to the airport terminal buildings. Arriving aircraft normally approach from the south and use the runway furthest from the airport, while departing aircraft take-off to the north using the closest runway. Obviously a change in prevailing wind conditions will necessitate other arrangements.

The Airport is also part of an interesting new club. It was one of the first airports to receive commercial flights of the Airbus huge triple deck A380 super-jumbo aircraft. ORTIA’s runways was increased in width to make this possible.

##Expansion Further expansion to buildings and terminals is ongoing. One recently completed project (2010) was the in-terminal station for the then new rapid rail Gautrain that links Johannesburg and Pretoria, as well as ORTIA. A new transit terminal between the domestic and international terminals was also included in that particular construction project.

##Location, airport transfers, etc. ORTIA is, depending on traffic, located about a 45-minute drive from the Johannesburg's northern suburbs (e.g. Sandton & Rosebank). Gautrain journey time from ORTIA to Sandton is 13-minutes. Africa Deluxe Tours can arrange either land or helicopter transfers for our clients between their place of residence and O.R. Tambo International Airport. Clients who purchase tours from us are provided with extensive pre-tour documentation. Amongst other things it includes a detailed description of airport facilities, explanation of VAT reclaiming process, directions to the airport for self-drive clients, recommendations for restaurants, bookshops, etc.