Johannesburg airport fees: what you pay at JNB
Every charge at O. R. Tambo International Airport sits inside the air ticket. Airports Company South Africa sets a passenger service charge per departing passenger from 1 April 2026: R120.81 with VAT on domestic flights, R250.47 with VAT to Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia or Eswatini and R330.05 with VAT to other countries. The SA Civil Aviation Authority safety charge is R33.67. On international departures SARS collects air passenger tax of R190, or R100 to Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and Eswatini. Nothing is paid in cash at the airport.
Every charge at this airport
| Charge | Amount | Who pays | How it is paid | Set by | Collected by / goes to | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger service charge, domestic In force from 1 April 2026. Children up to two years old and passengers who stay on board during a stop are not counted. 1 | R120.81 (R105.05 before VAT) | Passengers departing on flights within South Africa | Inside the ticket | Airports Company South Africa | Airlines, for ACSA | In force |
| Passenger service charge, Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia or Eswatini The gazette lists both figures. It does not say which one is billed on international tickets. 1 | R250.47 (R217.80 before VAT) | Passengers departing to an airport in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia or Eswatini | Inside the ticket | Airports Company South Africa | Airlines, for ACSA | In force |
| Passenger service charge, other international The gazette lists both figures. It does not say which one is billed on international tickets. 1 | R330.05 (R287.00 before VAT) | Passengers departing to any other country | Inside the ticket | Airports Company South Africa | Airlines, for ACSA | In force |
| Passenger safety charge In force from 1 April 2026. Not charged to non-fee-paying passengers or to transit passengers who stay on board. 4 | R33.67 | Passengers departing on scheduled public air transport flights, domestic or international | Inside the ticket | South African Civil Aviation Authority, under the Civil Aviation Regulations | Airlines, for SACAA | In force |
| Air passenger tax, standard rate Domestic flights do not pay it. 2,3 | R190 | Passengers departing to countries outside the Southern African Customs Union | Inside the ticket | National Treasury, collected by SARS | Airlines, paid over to SARS monthly | In force |
| Air passenger tax, BLNS rate 2,3 | R100 | Passengers departing to Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia or Eswatini | Inside the ticket | National Treasury, collected by SARS | Airlines, paid over to SARS monthly | In force |
Evidence summary: 4 linked sources; 6 charges confirmed in force; 0 unconfirmed. Suspended and proposed charges are not treated as payable now.
How to pay
- All charges are added to the fare when you buy the ticket.
- Check the taxes and fees line of your booking to see each one.
- No cash payment is taken at the airport.
What this page does not cover
This page does not cover visa fees and is not legal advice. Fees change: check the date above and your ticket receipt before you travel.
Common questions
Do I pay airport tax in cash at O. R. Tambo International Airport?
No. The service charge, safety charge and air passenger tax are all built into the ticket price.
How much is air passenger tax when flying out of South Africa?
R190 per ticket to countries outside the customs union and R100 to Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia or Eswatini, according to SARS. Domestic flights do not pay it.
Do babies pay the ACSA passenger service charge?
No. The ACSA tariff does not count a passenger who is not older than two years.
Do arriving passengers pay these charges?
No. The ACSA service charge, the SACAA safety charge and air passenger tax are all charged on departure.
Other airports in South Africa
- Cape Town (CPT): Departing passengers pay an ACSA service charge, safety charge and international air passenger tax.
- Durban (DUR): Departing passengers pay an ACSA service charge, safety charge and international air passenger tax.
Sources
- Government Gazette 53922, Notice 3720 of 2026: ACSA publication of airport charges from 1 April 2026 (2 January 2026)
- SARS: Air Passenger Tax, what is it?
- SARS FAQ: What is the current rate on Air Passenger Tax?
- Acts Online: Civil Aviation Regulations 187.02.1, fees for passenger safety charge (substituted by Notice 7064, GG 54050, 30 January 2026, effective 1 April 2026)
Change log
- : Page published. Figures checked against the sources listed.