| Popular Airport | O.R. Tambo Intl. Airport |
|---|---|
| Popular Airlines | Ethiopian Airlines |
| Approximate Flight Duration | 5 hour |
| Approximate Travel Distance | 4084 Km |
The airport, which is approximately 6 kilometers of the city center, is located on Bole Road. In the city where public transportation is not very developed, you can use minibuses to reach the airport. Taxi is another transportation alternative that is frequently preferred by visitors. In addition to these, you can get to the airport from the city center by renting a car or by benefitting from the airport shuttle service in case your hotel offers this service.
You can reach the airport by getting on a minibus from the minibus stops located in the city center. Minibuses generally carry passengers to the airport from 5:30 am to 09:00 pm. Although it is relatively cheaper compared to taxi, you should remember that drivers may demand higher amounts from tourists. The fare is about 5 Birr. They may also charge extra amount for each baggage.
Hotel shuttle service is the most comfortable alternative for your travel to the airport. In Addis Ababa city center, there are both small hotels and accommodation centers of chain hotels such as Hilton, Radisson and Sheraton. Some of these hotels offer airport shuttle service. If your hotel offers this service and you want to benefit from this service for your travel to the airport, you should definitely make a reservation in advance.
There are two types of taxis that you can get on to reach the airport. Mercedes taxis of the National Tour Operator (NTO) operate under a company and offer service with more comfortable vehicles. With their predetermined tariffs, they create a more reliable image in terms of the fares. You can ask your hotel to call a NTO taxi for you.
There is no taximeter in the taxis operating in Addis Ababa, so it is advised to agree on the fare before getting on. These yellow taxis are approximately 10 times more expensive than blue-white taxis. You can also reach the airport in a short time with a blue-white taxi which you can find in the city center or waiting in front of hotels. The average fare is between 80 and 100 Birr. The owners of these taxis aren’t companies but individuals. Since there is also no taximeter in blue-white taxis and fares are not standardized by a company, they are more flexible in terms of fares and you should definitely bargain.
You can rent a car from one of the car rental companies that you can find in the city center or from the offices of tour operators. You can also get help from your hotel about renting a car.
Since some roads in Addis Ababa have no name, there isn’t sufficient number of traffic signs throughout the city and there is no traffic light on many roundabouts, traffic flow isn’t in order. For this reason, renting a car during your visit may not be a good option. If you want to rent a car only for travelling to the airport from the city center, you should prefer a company which has an office at the airport.
In order to get to the airport with the car you have rented, connect to Bole Road in the city center, drive southeastward and follow the airport signs.
There are 2 terminals at the airport. Terminal 1, which offers service for domestic flights, is located in the old building. Terminal 2 offers service for international passenger transportation in the new building.
At Bole International Airport, there are many restaurants and cafes in addition to stores and a duty-free shop where you can do some shopping before your flight.
At the airport, there is also a lounge for passengers looking for a comfortable environment and a much larger lounge is now being constructed. Although there is no left luggage service at the airport, you can find other standard airport services such as pharmacy, currency exchange office and ATM.
O.R. Tambo International Airport, also known as O.R. Tambo, is located near Johannesburg city centre. You can travel to the city centre from the airport by buses or taxis which you can find in front of the airport terminals. There are also other transportation options such as limousine and train which respond to different needs for the passengers at the airport. There are both international and domestic flights at the airport, which hosts millions of passengers every year.
Among the vehicles that you can choose for traveling to the city centre from O.R. Tambo International Airport, bus is the most affordable one. Buses going to the city centre depart from the terminal exit and pick up passengers from both domestic and international terminals. Bus fares are usually low and once you arrive in the city centre, you can walk to your destination or take a taxi or another bus. If you are not familiar with the city and visiting for the first time, it is recommended to take a taxi instead of public transportation such as bus.
You can easily find a taxi at any time of the day in front of the airport terminal and travel to different districts in or near Johannesburg city centre. Compared to the other vehicles, taking a taxi is a far better option for the foreigners visiting the city for the first time, because of safety reasons. Traveling to Johannesburg city centre by the taxis you can take from the exit gates of the airport terminals takes about 35 – 40 minutes. Moreover, taxi fares in the city are generally not too high, and if you are traveling in groups of 2 – 3 people, you can travel to the city centre by taxi at reasonable prices.
You can also travel by the trains that you can take from the train station located between the A and B terminals at the airport. The train fares are just as reasonable as the bus fares. When you take the train, you can travel to different routes you want to go in the city centre.
There are also more comfortable transportation options such as limousines at the airport for the passengers. The limousines, which you can hire from the terminal, offer an extremely fast and pleasant journey with their chauffeurs. Limousines, together with taxis, are the safest vehicles to travel to the city centre.
Passengers who want to rent a car at Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport can get a car delivered in a short time by going to the offices of international rent a car companies such as Hertz, AVIS, Europcar, Budget or National. Rental cars are a convenient and fast way to travel and passengers may also choose luxury cars . Remember to take your travel documents and identification papers, which you will need to rent a car, with you. Also, by making reservation in advance, you can get your car ready before you land on the airport and begin driving to the city centre without losing too much time.
