Johannesburg O.R. Tambo International Airport: Q1 2026 Airline Capacity Analysis

Introduction

In the first quarter of 2026, O. R. Tambo International Airport reaffirmed its position as the leading aviation hub in Sub-Saharan Africa and the second busiest airport on the continent after Cairo International Airport. The airport recorded a total of 6,567,325 airline seats, translating to an average of approximately 72,970 daily seats.

January emerged as the strongest month, with 2,288,893 seats, followed closely by March (2,220,532 seats) and February (2,057,900 seats). Notably, capacity remained relatively stable throughout the quarter, indicating minimal disruption from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, including the Israel–Iran conflict.

On a daily basis, 2 January 2026 recorded the highest seat capacity at 82,078 seats, closely followed by 4 January, reflecting strong early-year travel demand. In contrast, 21 January registered the lowest daily volume at 61,650 seats, highlighting normal operational fluctuations rather than systemic disruption.