East London Airport Guide 2026: King Phalo Airport (ELS)
Buffalo City's airport — renamed King Phalo in 2021 — is the Eastern Cape's second gateway. FlySafair, Airlink and CemAir connect it to four cities, with Johannesburg carrying most of the traffic and advance fares from under R800.
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Airport Basics
King Phalo Airport was renamed in February 2021 in honour of King Phalo kaTshiwo, the 18th-century paramount king of the Xhosa nation — you'll still hear locals call it East London Airport, and airlines use the ELS code either way. It sits about 9km west of the city centre on Settlers Way, roughly a 15-minute drive.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| IATA / ICAO | ELS / FAEL |
| Distance to city | ~9km west of the CBD — about 15 minutes |
| Airlines | FlySafair, Airlink, CemAir |
| Routes | Johannesburg (JNB), Cape Town (CPT), Durban (DUR) |
| Weekly flights | ~35 departures per week |
| Public transport | None — no rail or public bus service to the airport |
Airlines and Routes from East London (ELS)
FlySafair is the biggest operator at ELS by departures, with Airlink and CemAir filling out the network. Johannesburg dominates — it carries roughly two-thirds of all weekly departures.
| Route | Airlines | Direct time | Typical advance fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELS ↔ Johannesburg (JNB) | FlySafair, Airlink | ~1h 25m | from ~R789 one-way |
| ELS ↔ Cape Town (CPT) | FlySafair | ~1h 40m | from ~R860 |
| ELS ↔ Durban (DUR) | FlySafair, CemAir | ~1h 15m | from ~R990 |
| ELS ↔ Lanseria (HLA) | — | — | Suspended April 2026 |
Getting To and From King Phalo Airport
| Option | Typical cost to CBD | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Uber / Bolt | ~R120–R220 | Usually available at arrivals; surge at peak times |
| Metered taxi | ~R180–R280 | At the rank outside arrivals |
| Pre-booked shuttle | from ~R250 | Best for groups and beachfront hotels |
| Car hire | varies | Major companies at the terminal — the practical choice for Wild Coast trips |
Gateway to the Wild Coast
ELS is the most practical fly-in point for the southern Wild Coast — Cintsa, Morgan Bay, Kei Mouth and Haga Haga are all within about 1–1.5 hours' drive. For the central Wild Coast (Coffee Bay, Hole in the Wall), compare against flying to Mthatha: ELS has more flights, more airlines and cheaper fares, but Mthatha is ~2 hours closer by road to Coffee Bay. If fares are within a few hundred rand, the drive time usually decides it.
Terminal Upgrades Through 2027
King Phalo is part of ACSA's national investment programme, with departure-lounge expansion, a relocated security checkpoint and improved retail space scheduled through 2027. Expect some construction detours in the terminal — arrive with the standard 90-minute domestic buffer rather than cutting it fine.
When to Book East London Flights
FlySafair's presence keeps this market competitive: Johannesburg to East London started at R1,179 one-way on FlySafair for 28 October (checked 7 October 2026), with Airlink R300 more but including a 20 kg bag. Book 3–6 weeks ahead for normal travel; midweek (Tue–Wed) departures are consistently cheapest. December and Easter see heavy Eastern Cape homecoming traffic, so book those 2 months out. If you're paid month-end, our salary-cycle booking guide shows how to time the purchase.
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- Johannesburg to East London flights — FlySafair & Airlink ~1h 25m
- Cape Town to East London flights — FlySafair ~1h 40m
- Durban to East London flights — ~1h 15m
- Lanseria to East London flights — suspended April 2026
- All flights from East London (ELS)
Frequently Asked Questions
Which airlines fly to East London (King Phalo) Airport?
Three airlines serve ELS: FlySafair (the largest by departures), Airlink and CemAir, connecting East London to Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban with roughly 35 flights per week.
Why is East London Airport called King Phalo Airport?
The airport was renamed in February 2021 in honour of King Phalo kaTshiwo (c.1702–1755), paramount king of the Xhosa nation. The IATA code remains ELS and many travellers still use the old name.
How far is King Phalo Airport from East London city centre?
About 9km west of the CBD on Settlers Way — roughly a 15-minute drive. There is no rail or public bus service, so use Uber, Bolt, a metered taxi, a pre-booked shuttle or car hire.
How much is a flight from Johannesburg to East London?
Advance one-way fares start around R789 with FlySafair outside peak periods. Booking 3–6 weeks ahead and flying midweek gets the best prices; December and Easter fares run significantly higher.
Does FlySafair fly from Lanseria to East London?
Not any more. FlySafair launched the route in November 2025 but suspended it in April 2026 because of limited demand, and no other airline picked it up. East London now connects to Johannesburg via OR Tambo only, on FlySafair, Airlink and CemAir.
Is East London or Mthatha better for the Wild Coast?
For the southern Wild Coast (Cintsa, Morgan Bay, Kei Mouth), East London is clearly better — more flights and cheaper fares. For Coffee Bay and the central Wild Coast, Mthatha is about 2 hours closer by road, which can outweigh the fare difference.
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How we verify this page
Airport facilities, transport options and airline route details on this page are checked against the airport operator's and airlines' own published information rather than third-party summaries. Airports and airlines change services, fees and schedules without notice — always confirm final details with your carrier before travelling.
Primary sources:
- Airport facilities & operations — Airports Company South Africa (ACSA)
- Route & schedule details — FlySafair official site
Last verified: 24 July 2026 by Kyle Govender. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will correct it.
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