All direct flights to Johannesburg from the UK & Ireland

Flights from Airport code Flag Country Airline Name Book now Route Description Route
London HeathrowLHRUkUkSouth African AirwaysClick to go to South African Airways booking siteflights from London Heathrow to JohannesburgFlights to Johannesburg from London Heathrow
London HeathrowLHRUkUkBA (British Airways)Click to go to BA (British Airways) booking siteFlights from London Heathrow to JohannesburgFlights to Johannesburg from London HeathrowBook directly with BA for the cheapest flight on the internet.
London HeathrowLHRUkUkVirgin AtlanticClick to go to Virgin Atlantic booking siteFlights from London Heathrow to JohannesburgFlights to Johannesburg from London Heathrow

Flight Summary

Despite being the busiest airport in Africa, the vast majority of UK to Johannesburg flights still depart from London. Flyglobespan have now added flights from Manchester to Johannesburg, complementing their existing Cape Town route.

Destination Summary

Johannesburg is South Africa's biggest city. Unfortunately, Johannesburg is notoriously violent and has unparalleled levels of crime.

Quick Facts

  • Airport Code: JNB
  • Alternative Name: Jan Smuts
  • Miles From London: 9071

James Says

Direct flights

The demand for flights to South Africa continues to grow, and even though most Brits are heading for cosmopolitan Cape Town, Johannesburg is still the major transfer hub for onward connections within South Africa. South African Airways, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer non-stop direct flights from London Heathrow to Johannesburg, with the lesser known Nationwide Airlines also offering a much lower frequency service from London Gatwick.

Connecting flights

There are plenty of connecting flights to Johannesburg available through European cities such as Paris, Madrid or Milan. However, the Dutch colonial connections with South Africa, combined with the huge range of regional connections from various UK airports, ensure that Amsterdam is by far the most popular transfer point for indirect flights from the UK to Johannesburg. It is also possible to find connecting flights via Dubai with Emirates - this route takes longer, but some passengers are happy to trade this slight increase in journey time for the chance to peruse Dubai’s amazing duty free shops. Connecting flights via African cities are few and far between, although Air Namibia do actively promote the option of travelling to Johannesburg via Windhoek.

Mark Says

Nowhere else in South Africa is feeling the changes of the post-apartheid years – both good and bad – like Jo'Burg. This bustling metropolis is the country's financial powerhouse and main transport hub, but whilst hotels, casinos, and nightclubs are dotting up all over the city, serious crime continues to be a major concern. Violent crime is common, but huge efforts are being made to curb the problem, especially with the world's attention focusing on South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup finals. For all its tensions, Jo'burg is a city desperately trying to move up in the world. This dynamism is reflected in the wealth of top notch shopping and entertainment facilities that rival many North American or European cities. At the other extreme are townships that form a suffocating belt around the city. Two million people live in Soweto, the largest and most notorious of Jo'burg's ghettos. Guided tours of this fascinating and vibrant (if somewhat edgy) area have become popular in recent years, but it is still too dangerous to visit without a knowledgeable chaperone. Jo'burg is ideally situated within a few hours drive of many of South Africa's top attractions. Lion Park (which is?) and the ever-popular Gold Reef City theme park, which was created out of a disused gold mine, are both about 45 minutes out of town. Further afield is the extraordinary Sun City entertainment and gambling complex and the extinct volcanic craters of the Pilansberg nature reserve. Jo'burg is also the main starting point for tours to the immense Kruger National Park, which stretches vistually the whole length of the border with neighbouring Mozambique. The park has an enormous range of wildlife including lions, cheeters, elephants, giraffes, rhinos, and hippos.

@Jodatu That might be slightly different. I only looked at SE HS1 on their own, also with flights fm Manston ceasing, looked at Ashford-EDI

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@Jodatu Yes, SE HS1 Highspeed. Off Peak single was £1.80 less St P - Ahsford cf peak. I tried booking online, no suggestion of CDRs

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@Jodatu Read the link - basically no advance tix on HS1, minimal savings offpeak compared to peak. Why would SE want to compete with selves?

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