Which airlines operate direct flights to East London?

There are several airlines with direct lights to East London. FlySafair is one of the most common choices, offering direct flights from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB), Cape Town International (CPT), and King Shaka Airport (DUR) in Durban. These flights are some of the most affordable. Hahn Air Systems also offers direct flights from these three airports. Airlink is one of the most costly options and only has direct flights from OR Tambo in Johannesburg.

What are the benefits of Airlink flights to East London?

Airlink is a premium, full-service airline operating out of South Africa. It's one of the few airlines that offer in-flight entertainment and meals on domestic flights. The airline also includes a generous baggage allowance of one cabin bag weighing 8 kg and one checked bag of 23 kg for domestic routes. Most other airlines have limited entertainment options and don't provide in-flight beverages or food.

What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at East London?

FlySafair operates the most flights from South Africa to East London at 49 per week, and for this route FlySafair is also the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from South Africa to East London. The two are sometimes different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveller choice.

How long are direct flights to East London from different departure cities?

Direct flight time to East London varies depending on your departure city: • from Durban: 1h 15m • from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport: 1h 25m • from Cape Town: 1h 20m

Where can I fly from to get the cheapest fares to East London?

Based on fares booked in the past 5 days, the cheapest flights to East London are from: • Johannesburg, from R2 069 return

How many flights serve East London?

East London receives 9 flights per day and 65 per week from across the world. Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport has the most flights to East London with 42 weekly flights.

How do I know if a flight to East London is a good deal?

A good deal on a flight to East London is around R1 855 return. This fare is in the lowest 25% of return flight prices searched on KAYAK, averaged across the cities most often searched as origins by KAYAK users.

How expensive are last-minute flights to East London?

Last-minute fares to East London – booked within 2 weeks of departure – run 1% above the average return fare of R2 394.

Which airlines should I consider for flights to East London?

FlySafair, Airlink, and Cemair are the most popular airlines among KAYAK users flying to East London. Cemair has the best on-time record at the destination's main airport.

What is the cheapest flight to East London?

Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to East London is the cheapest route at R2 069 return, found in the past 5 days on KAYAK. KAYAK data shows this is also the most popular route.

How much is a flight to East London?

A return flight to East London costs R2 394 on average, based on data over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Return fares from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport average R2 255, while Durban runs a bit higher at R2 558.

What is the cheapest day to fly to East London?

Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly to East London at R2 315 return on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Sunday is the most expensive at R2 692.

What is the cheapest month to fly to East London?

•February is the cheapest month to fly to East London with an average price of R1 757 return. •April (R2 955) and June (R2 807) are the most expensive. •Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to East London?

Evening flights to East London are the cheapest at R2 233 return on average. Afternoon flights are the most expensive at R2 594.

What is a good deal for flights to East London?

Flights under R1 855 are considered a good deal. 25% of KAYAK users found return flights to East London at or below these prices, with the lowest fares from: •Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport R1 777.

When are flights to East London the cheapest?

Flights to East London are cheapest 6 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 6% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

What are the most popular airlines flying to East London?

FlySafair is the most popular airline flying to East London among KAYAK users, followed by Airlink and Cemair.

Which airline offers the most direct flights to East London?

FlySafair operates the most direct flights to East London, with an average of 49 per week. Airlink follows with 13 weekly direct flights. 3 airlines fly direct to this destination.

How many direct flights to East London are there each day?

There are around 9 daily direct flights to East London. 56% depart in the morning, 33% in the afternoon, 11% in the evening, and 0% at night.

How many direct flights to East London are there each week?

There are 65 direct flights to East London each week. Thursday is the day with the most departures at 17%.

How many long-haul flights are there to East London each week?

No long-haul flights serve this destination.

How many cities have direct flights to East London?

3 cities have direct flights to East London. Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport has the most with 42 direct flights per week.

How often are flights to East London delayed?

Based on KAYAK data over the past 3 months, flights to East London are delayed by 15 minutes or more 12% of the time, 3 percentage points above the national average of 9%. Winter months have the highest delay rate on average at 12%.

R1 034 CHEAP FLIGHTS to East London in 2026/27

Booking Insights

Price, demand, and travel trends for South Africa to East London flights

Use KAYAK data on prices, travel dates, airlines, and seasonal trends to compare options and book flights from South Africa to East London with more confidence.

Prices

Airlines

What is the cheapest flight to East London?: Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to East London is the cheapest route at R2 069 return, found in the past 5 days on KAYAK. KAYAK data shows this is also the most popular route.
How much is a flight to East London? Average and cheapest price for all return flights to East London from each origin found by users searching on KAYAK in the last 12 months.: A return flight to East London costs R2 394 on average, based on data over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Return fares from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport average R2 255, while Durban runs a bit higher at R2 558.
What is the cheapest day to fly to East London?: Wednesday is the cheapest day to fly to East London at R2 315 return on average over the past 12 months on KAYAK. Sunday is the most expensive at R2 692.
What is the cheapest month to fly to East London? To calculate monthly average prices, KAYAK takes all prices for each month over the last 12 months for flights to East London, removes the top 0.1% to account for outliers, then takes the median of all values for each month.: •February is the cheapest month to fly to East London with an average price of R1 757 return.
•April (R2 955) and June (R2 807) are the most expensive.
•Based on KAYAK data over the past 12 months.
What is the cheapest time of day to fly to East London? Average price for all return flights depending on time of departure, seen by users on KAYAK in the last 12 months.: Evening flights to East London are the cheapest at R2 233 return on average. Afternoon flights are the most expensive at R2 594.
What is a good deal for flights to East London?: Flights under R1 855 are considered a good deal. 25% of KAYAK users found return flights to East London at or below these prices, with the lowest fares from:
•Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport R1 777.
When are flights to East London the cheapest?: Flights to East London are cheapest 6 weeks before departure. Booking in this window typically costs about 6% less than the average last-minute fare (within 2 weeks of the flight), based on KAYAK data.

Find deals

Low season	February
High season	November
Cheapest flight	R1 034

Best time to beat the crowds (27% less expensive on average)

Most popular time to fly and prices are also 18% lower on average.

Flights from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport to East London

When to book flights to East London

Are your dates flexible? Find out the best times to travel to East London based on our flight data from the last year. Discover the cheapest month and even day to fly.

Estimated return price

KAYAK looks at all historical flight data for each date to provide a predicted price for one-way trips or returns with a duration up to 40 days. The information is for flights to East London based on your location. While we try to provide actual minimum prices for each date, some prices are predictions and actual prices may differ.

How do I know if a flight to East London is a good deal?
A good deal on a flight to East London is around R1 855 return. This fare is in the lowest 25% of return flight prices searched on KAYAK, averaged across the cities most often searched as origins by KAYAK users.
How long are direct flights to East London from different departure cities?
Direct flight time to East London varies depending on your departure city:

• from Durban: 1h 15m
• from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport: 1h 25m
• from Cape Town: 1h 20m
Where can I fly from to get the cheapest fares to East London?
Based on fares booked in the past 5 days, the cheapest flights to East London are from:
• Johannesburg, from R2 069 return
How expensive are last-minute flights to East London?
Last-minute fares to East London – booked within 2 weeks of departure – run 1% above the average return fare of R2 394.
What is the difference between the most popular and the most frequent airline at East London?
FlySafair operates the most flights from South Africa to East London at 49 per week, and for this route FlySafair is also the airline most often selected by KAYAK users searching for flights from South Africa to East London. The two are sometimes different because flight volume reflects an airline's schedule, while popularity reflects traveller choice.
Which airlines should I consider for flights to East London?
FlySafair, Airlink, and Cemair are the most popular airlines among KAYAK users flying to East London. Cemair has the best on-time record at the destination's main airport.
How many flights serve East London?
East London receives 9 flights per day and 65 per week from across the world. Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport has the most flights to East London with 42 weekly flights.
Which airlines operate direct flights to East London?
There are several airlines with direct lights to East London. FlySafair is one of the most common choices, offering direct flights from OR Tambo International Airport (JNB), Cape Town International (CPT), and King Shaka Airport (DUR) in Durban. These flights are some of the most affordable. Hahn Air Systems also offers direct flights from these three airports. Airlink is one of the most costly options and only has direct flights from OR Tambo in Johannesburg.
What are the benefits of Airlink flights to East London?
Airlink is a premium, full-service airline operating out of South Africa. It's one of the few airlines that offer in-flight entertainment and meals on domestic flights. The airline also includes a generous baggage allowance of one cabin bag weighing 8 kg and one checked bag of 23 kg for domestic routes. Most other airlines have limited entertainment options and don't provide in-flight beverages or food.

For the best chance at a low fare to East London, aim to book around 6 weeks before you fly. That window historically saves about 6% versus last-minute pricing based on KAYAK booking data over the last 12 months.
For flights to East London, recent KAYAK data shows that stronger deals tend to be around R1 855 return. If you see a fare below that threshold, it's a good deal – book before the price climbs back up.
If you can choose when to go, aim to travel to East London in February. Return fares historically average R1 757 that month – typically the cheapest month to travel based on the last 12 months.
Before you book:

• Check the route's typical price range so you can spot a deal.
• Confirm baggage fees and seat selection costs on budget carriers.
• Verify whether you need any travel documents beyond an ID.
• Pick a departure airport, since your nearest may not be the cheapest origin.
Shift your departure to afternoon to save up to R361 per return. Afternoon flights to East London average R2 233 compared to R2 594 for midday flights. See the time-of-day chart above for the full breakdown.
Bag allowances vary by airline, fare type, cabin class, and route. On flights to East London, some airlines may include bags at no extra cost. For example, FlySafair includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class, Cemair includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class, and Airlink includes a cabin bag and a checked bag in Economy class. Always check the fare details before booking, since bag policies can change by ticket type.
East London Airport (ELS) has minimal public transport available. The most convenient way to get to the city centre is to arrange a private transfer through your hotel or catch a taxi from outside the main terminal building. The drive from the airport to the city is roughly 15 minutes, depending on the time of day and traffic.
If you're jumping on a self-transfer flight to try and save money, consider your stopover time when booking tickets to ensure you have enough time to collect your luggage and check in again. There are certain flights with close to an hour stopover time, like flights from Johannesburg via Durban, which doesn't leave much time for collection and doesn't account for delays. Missing a connecting flight isn't covered by the airline on self-transfer flights.
If you're travelling with checked luggage, make sure your ticket includes a baggage allowance, as adding baggage to your ticket can be more expensive. FlySafair typically doesn't include checked luggage in the standard Economy ticket and only allows for one cabin bag. If you're booking with Hahn Air Systems, a checked bag of 23 kg is usually included in the price.

Reviews of the top 4 airlines flying to East London

Need help choosing which airline to fly with to East London? KAYAK airline reviews give an overall score for each airline based on loads of factors, including comfort, boarding, in-flight entertainment and more, to make your decision easier. See airline scores according to verified KAYAK customer reviews.

8,4

AirlinkOverall score based on 90 reviews

6,4Entertainment

8,0Food

8,2Comfort

8,2Boarding

8,8Crew

Airline reviews

Loved the in flight meal! Surprisingly good.! Staff on board were all friendly and professional! Book as far ahead as possible! Get your seat selection locked in ASAP

10,0 ExcellentGregory, Apr 2026

Read more Airlink reviews

Loved the in flight meal! Surprisingly good.! Staff on board were all friendly and professional! Book as far ahead as possible! Get your seat selection locked in ASAP

Far better than last return flight we had when the flight was delayed due to technical error and we missed our connection flight with no initial support from Airlink. This time thankfully all went well and will use again.

This was an excellent flight with great crew and a full complement service including a sandwich, a drink from the bar, tea, coffee or water with the meal and then a further bar service.

I can't understand how the priority boarding queue has so many people standing in it. I was travelling business class and arrived 40 minutes before boarding time and there we about 25 people in the queue ahead of me?

+ There was a great small meal even on the short flight + They gave our kids a magazine that kept them busy because there were no screens - We didn't get a boarding pass for our infant in arms for the connecting flight

Airlink is my preferred airline for travel in South and Southern Africa. Upington international airport is small so check in and security screening is a breeze. Boarding is easy and the flight was good. Took a while to get the luggage at OR Tambo airport but all in all a nice experience

this route is more expensive than you would expect. Boarding, disembarking was easy and fast. Cabin crew was friendly. Seats are small

Original flight was delayed due to technical issue. Very poor communication. The manager only appeared when we were climbing on board the plane.This resulted in us missing our follow on flight also with Airlink. No ticket issued from Skukuza and no assistance when we landed to address the issue. We had to make our own arrangements and go to their sales desk. Again they had no knowledge of the flight delay and of any passengers that had connecting flights. The lady (unfortunately with all the STRESS I have forgotten her name) at the counter was extremely helpful and is an excellent example of the type of employee Airlink need to promote and employ. Our luggage was in limbo due to all the missing information and assistance. We had to resort to buying extra tickets from South African Airways who were extremely helpful. I work at an airport so am familiar with its workings. I will infuture be looking for alternative flights.

Airline is the best airline experience I’ve ever had.

Easy boarding, smooth flight, friendly and helpful attendants. As with every other airline, there isn't enough leg room to be comfortable. Food was adequate.

Seat reclining, foot space; entertainment non-existent, but OK for sort flight! Staff super.

You get what you pay for. Uncomfortable seats, pay sky high prices for snacks, a passenger along side me was distressed and crying through most of the flight. I went to the tail of the plane to give to the distraught passenger. A stewardess approached me and I explained the situation. I was then charged R19 for a small bottle of water.!!!

A snack was advertised on my booking but when they came around I was told that is wrong. I wanted juice so I had to pay for it. I flew business class and was unable to book a business class seat on the website. Lucky there was still one available when I checked in at the airport.

I love FlySafair! PUNCTUALITY is what they do best, and thier schedule is so flexible, how they've structured Departure slots, one can decide to leave any time of the day. I am a coffee lover, I was astonished with their partnership with Boottleggers to allow us have specialty coffee on board, so wonderful.

Seats are very narrow. Boarding was delayed. The R85 voucher is insufficient for a wine and mixed nuts. Needs to be increased for "business class".

Our flight was canceled. The airline was apparently on strike.

Don’t waist money on priority. Changed the gates. Then let everyone through while priority row was twice as long. Got sooner to my seat jumping to the end of the line

Old planes and lack of attention to detail. Horrible experience.

Very good experience considering that is low cost company. Good value for money.

Great airline. Will use again. Keep up the great work though and maintain your customer retention. And please keep an eye on the bottom line and stay in business for decades to come and grow from strength to strength.

My wife’s checked luggage was missing her glasses,and some jewelry. The suitcase was inspected before boarding by your staff of thieves. So sad that your country suffers from so much domestic thievery. My wife is South African.

Your flight from CPT to JNB was delayed 3 times !!! Operational issues tells the customer, me , nothing!!! Issues really were bad weather; and mechanical failures due to poor sub- standard preventive maintenance. Blame the weather all you want, but a delay of 5 hours should be unacceptable to your management. The Cemair staff in JNB dropped the ball !!!!!! And the answer here in South Africa is a lack of CARING . Understand????

My original flight was cancelled and I was rebooked on a flight that departed 7 hours later. I was advised by Emirates (with whom my full itinerary was booked) that I was not able to cancel and change airlines. Needless to say, not happy.

Female pilot and co-pilot handle themselves very well. Professional.

Plettenberg Bay is a unique airport, so boarding with always have certain quirks. Cemair has zero regard for passengers, and their commitment to adhering to departure times. In two flights we had 3 flight changes, and a 1.5h delay. If you have any kind preceding or follow on plans, do not fly Cemair.

For now everything is good we want access to book direct to camair

send ourt booking confirmation numbers as soon as payment is done to simplify checkin

No A/C on the plane - and it was hot. Unmarked aircraft - looked sketchy.

Flight delayed with no explanation was only made aware lats min when already arrived at the air port

Efficient low cost operation.. Gets you from A to B, not much else.

I arrived at the airport and the flight did not exist

They find a way to Nickel and dime you in all creative ways. The boarding crew seems to have target collection amount. If you are flying internationally, avoid them at all costs.

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R1 034 Find Cheap Flights to East London – Compare and Save

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Cheap Flights to East London

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Price, demand, and travel trends for South Africa to East London flights

What is the cheapest flight to East London?

How much is a flight to East London?

What is the cheapest day to fly to East London?

What is the cheapest month to fly to East London?

What is the cheapest time of day to fly to East London?

What is a good deal for flights to East London?

When are flights to East London the cheapest?

What are the most popular airlines flying to East London?

Which airline offers the most direct flights to East London?

How many direct flights to East London are there each day?

How many direct flights to East London are there each week?

How many long-haul flights are there to East London each week?

How many cities have direct flights to East London?

How often are flights to East London delayed?

Key details for flights to East London

Low season

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Cheapest flight

When to book flights to East London

Your questions about flights to East London, answered

Your guide to booking East London flights

Reviews of the top 4 airlines flying to East London

More options for your flight to East London

Complete your trip to East London with a hotel stay or car hire

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