Find Cheap Flights from Johannesburg to East London – Compare and Save

These are the earliest and latest flight times available from Johannesburg to East London:

• Earliest: departs at 6:45 and lands at 8:18
• Latest: departs at 18:05 and lands at 19:38.

The flight takes about 1h 33m.

Two cabin classes are available on flights from Johannesburg to East London:

• Economy class
• Premium Economy Class

A direct flight from Johannesburg to East London takes 1h 33m, covering 1 222 km.

No, a passport is not required for this domestic route, but you will need another form of identification, such as a driving licence.

Return flights from Johannesburg to East London range from R1 895 to R2 990, with an average of R2 441 over the past 12 months. Anything below R1 895 counts as a good deal.

Last-minute fares on this route (booked within two weeks of departure) run 2% above the R2 441 route average. Book 12 weeks before departure for the lowest fares.

On this route, direct flights are cheaper than stopover options on average. Direct fares average R2 435 return, compared with R6 028 via a stopover through Durban King Shaka Intl (DUR).

Cemair is slightly above the route average for timely arrivals, while FlySafair has a lower on-time arrival rate. On-time arrival rates on Johannesburg to East London flights are:

• Cemair: 90% on time
• FlySafair: 87% on time
• Airlink: 71% on time

On average, flights on this route are punctual 84% of the time.

There is no standard. Checked bag policies vary by airline on this route. Most carriers charge R95–R1 663 for the first checked bag in Economy. Premium fares and elite status bookings typically include a free checked bag.

Morning is the busiest departure period on Johannesburg to East London flights, with 51% leaving in that window. Afternoon departures account for 33%, Evening flights for 16%, and Night flights for 0%.

East London Airport (ELS) hosts 5 major car hire companies, with daily rates starting from around R151 for economy cars. Top options include:

• GREEN MOTION
• Sixt
• Avis
• Budget
• Hertz

Flights from Johannesburg to East London may depart from several airports in Johannesburg area, including Johannesburg Lanseria (HLA) and Johannesburg OR Tambo (JNB). Flights usually arrive at East London (ELS).

Afternoon flights have the fewest delays on this route, while morning departures tend to have the most.

A flight is considered delayed when it departs 15 minutes or more after its scheduled time. This is the standard used by the US Department of Transportation and most airline industry reporting. On the Johannesburg to East London route, 16% of flights were delayed in the past three months, with delays averaging 1h 20m.

Connecting flights from Johannesburg to East London most commonly pass through:

• Durban King Shaka Intl (DUR) – 79% of one-stop connections
• Cape Town Intl (CPT) – 21% of one-stop connections

Yes. Flexible dates can save you up to 11% on flights from Johannesburg to East London. Wednesday is the cheapest departure day at R2 328 return on average, while Sunday is the most expensive at R2 594, a difference of R266.

KAYAK's flexible dates feature shows options up to three days before and after your selected dates, making it easier to compare nearby fares.

3 airlines operate flights between Johannesburg and East London. The airlines offering direct flights on this route include:

• FlySafair
• Airlink
• Cemair

Flying via Cape Town Intl (CPT) gives the shortest average 1-stop total travel time of 6h 14m, compared to 8h 20m via Durban King Shaka Intl (DUR).

Among airlines operating Johannesburg to East London flights:

• FlySafair: offers free seat selection
• Airlink: offers free seat selection
• Cemair: offers free seat selection

Extra legroom and free seat selection availability depends on fare class and route.

Here are some options for this route, based on selected ticket types and cabin classes:

• FlySafair: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Airlink: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class
• Cemair: a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class

Baggage allowance can vary by ticket type, cabin class, route, and airline, so always check the fare details before booking.