Welcome to East London Airport, serving the city of East London on South Africa’s eastern coast. This regional airport features modern facilities and connects passengers to major cities within South Africa and select international destinations. It plays a vital role in supporting the region’s commerce and tourism industries.
Location of Eastern Cape in South Africa.
Location and Regional Significance
East London, part of the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, is located on the coast of South Africa in the province of the Eastern Cape along the Indian Ocean and is home to a population of 755,000 residents. The primary spoken language is Xhosa but English is mostly understood within the region. Being a coastal City, East London is situated within convenient travelling distance from popular local beaches such as Nahoon Beach, Gonubie Beach and Orient Beach.
Airlines and Destinations
East London Airport based in the Eastern Cape provides domestic flights to Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth through airlines Airlink, Fly Safair, Kulula, South African Airways and South African Express.
The following table outlines the airlines and their destinations from King Phalo Airport:
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| Airlines | Destinations |
|---|---|
| Airlink | Johannesburg-O. R. |
| CemAir | Johannesburg-O. R. |
| FlySafair | Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg-Lanseria (begins 2 November 2025), Johannesburg-O. R. |
| BidAir Cargo | Johannesburg-O. R. |
Passenger Traffic
East London Airport handles over 600,000 passengers a year. The airport handles between 20 and 30 flights daily, which bring 946,000 people to East London each year. Of these, about 540,000 are holidaymakers, mostly local, and about 15% are foreign tourists. In 2013, the airport served 658,363 passengers. The airport welcomed over 806,000 passengers in 2016, beating the 679,000 that passed through East London in 2015. In 2016, King Phalo Airport was voted the fastest growing airport in South Africa, having accomplished an almost 19% increase in traffic over a 12-month-period.
Facilities and Services
Facilities in the Airport Terminal building include Banks and ATMs, a tourist and information help desk, retail shops, and public telephones. East London Airport is fully disabled-friendly, access within the terminal building is made easier for disabled passengers with lifts, ramps and reserved disabled parking available for use.
History and Development
The airport was commissioned and established in 1927 by Lieut Colonel Alistair Miller and has been moved from its original location several times, until 1965 when it was renamed after former Transport Minister as Ben Schoeman Airport and made permanent residence in its current location. Passenger flights were undertaken by two de Havilland Moth planes on Saturday afternoons and all day on Sundays, weather permitting. Flights could also be booked for weekdays, but only by special arrangement. In 1965 the airport was again moved, this time to its present site, 9 km west of the city centre. It was renamed back to East London Airport in 1994, since then major alterations have been made to the terminal building seeing a major influx of passengers and cargo being transported from the airport. King Phalo Airport is at an elevation of 435 feet (133 m) above mean sea level.
On 13 March 1967, South African Airways Flight 406 crashed into the Indian Ocean while on approach to King Phalo Airport.
East London Airport 2017 Arrival
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