Is Johannesburg the best airport to fly into for the Cricket World Cup?

For most international visitors, yes. O.R. Tambo has the widest choice of long-haul routes into the region, so it is usually the cheapest and simplest point of entry, and it connects onward to every other host city.

How do I get from O.R. Tambo to the city?

The Gautrain runs from the airport straight to Sandton and towards Pretoria, avoiding road traffic. Ride-hailing and metered taxis cover destinations off the Gautrain line.

Can I connect to other host cities from Johannesburg?

Yes. Johannesburg is South Africa's busiest domestic hub, with frequent flights to Cape Town, Durban and the smaller South African venues, plus regional services to Harare, Bulawayo and Windhoek.

ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2027

Flights to Johannesburg for the Cricket World Cup 2027

For most people flying in for the 2027 tournament, Johannesburg is where the trip begins. O.R. Tambo is the busiest airport in Africa and carries the widest choice of long-haul routes, which makes it the natural first point of entry even for fans whose cricket is elsewhere.

Last verified: 24 July 2026. Venue-specific fixture dates are omitted until the ICC confirms the full schedule.

The airport

O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB)

International gateway

O.R. Tambo is South Africa's principal international gateway and the country's busiest airport. If you are connecting onward to another host city, you will almost certainly change here.

The Johannesburg skyline with the Sandton business district — O.R. Tambo connects to Sandton — seen here — by the Gautrain, and is the usual first stop for onward domestic flights.

Getting there

How to reach Johannesburg by air

The airport draws long-haul services from Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and elsewhere in Africa, so a one-stop itinerary is realistic from almost anywhere. From the Gulf and East African hubs in particular, connections run several times a day.

On the ground

Airport, transfers and onward travel

Distance: O.R. Tambo sits east of the city in Kempton Park. The Wanderers is in Illovo, between Rosebank and Sandton — a short drive, or a Gautrain ride to Sandton followed by a brief hop.
Getting around: The Gautrain rapid-rail line runs from the airport directly to Sandton and on towards Pretoria, sidestepping the traffic. Beyond that corridor, ride-hailing is the simple default.
Onward connections: Johannesburg is the main domestic hub too, with frequent connections to Cape Town, Durban, Gqeberha, Bloemfontein and KuGompo City (King Phalo Airport), and regional links to Harare, Bulawayo and Windhoek. It is also the base for reaching Pretoria and Centurion, which have no airport of their own.

Plan ahead

Questions