OR Tambo International Airport, formerly known as Johannesburg International Airport, is over 80 years old.
The airport was originally opened in 1945 as a military airfield. It was later renamed Jan Smuts Airport after the South African statesman and Prime Minister. In 1994, after the end of apartheid, the airport was renamed again to OR Tambo International Airport in honor of Oliver Reginald Tambo, the former president of the African National Congress (ANC).
Over the years, OR Tambo Airport has undergone significant expansion and modernization to become one of the busiest airports in Africa.
Here are some key milestones in the airport's history:
- 1945: The airport opens as a military airfield.
- 1952: The airport is renamed Jan Smuts Airport.
- 1994: The airport is renamed OR Tambo International Airport.
- 1996: The airport undergoes a major expansion and modernization.
- 2010: The airport is further expanded and modernized to accommodate the influx of passengers during the FIFA World Cup.
Today, OR Tambo International Airport is a major hub for international and domestic flights, serving as a gateway to Southern Africa.
