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ELS Ben Schoeman Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Ben Schoeman Airport (ELS) serves East London. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATAELS
ICAOFAEL
Non-stop4
Airlines2
TimezoneAfrica/Johannesburg
Elevation133 m

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The airport in numbers

Ben Schoeman Airport — facts & history

We pulled Ben Schoeman Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 66,563 passengers in 2022, against a peak of 681,695 in 2011.

Passengers / year
66,563
as of 2022
Peak traffic
681,695
in 2011
Elevation
133 מ׳
above sea level
Operator
Airports Company South Africa
Passengers per year, 2011–2022

Figures: Wikidata (CC0)

Airport to city

Getting from Ben Schoeman Airport to East London

Train & bus: Johannesburg (OR Tambo): the Gautrain to Sandton and Pretoria — fast and safe. Cape Town: the MyCiTi bus to the centre.

Taxi & apps: Use Uber or Bolt (legal, recommended), not a rank taxi. Avoid a 'minibus taxi' with luggage.

Tipping: 10% is usual.

Choose and book

Which way suits you from Ben Schoeman Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in East London ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Ben Schoeman Airport

Non-stop flights to about 4 destinations, operated by 2 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: South African Airways · Comair

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Ben Schoeman Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Ben Schoeman Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in East London shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Ben Schoeman Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near East London

Same country

Other airports in South Africa

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Ben Schoeman Airport to the centre of East London?
Johannesburg (OR Tambo): the Gautrain to Sandton and Pretoria — fast and safe. Cape Town: the MyCiTi bus to the centre.
Can I use a ride app from Ben Schoeman Airport?
Use Uber or Bolt (legal, recommended), not a rank taxi. Avoid a 'minibus taxi' with luggage.
What's the cheapest way from Ben Schoeman Airport to East London?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. Johannesburg (OR Tambo): the Gautrain to Sandton and Pretoria — fast and safe. Cape Town: the MyCiTi bus to the centre.
Can I get from Ben Schoeman Airport into town without a car?
Yes. Johannesburg (OR Tambo): the Gautrain to Sandton and Pretoria — fast and safe. Cape Town: the MyCiTi bus to the centre. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Ben Schoeman Airport?
About 4 destinations, including Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth, Cape Town, Durban. 2 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Ben Schoeman Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Ben Schoeman Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Ben Schoeman Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
East London city guide← South Africa travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026

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