Flights to East London Airport (ELS)

Discover East London

Contrary to what its name might suggest, East London Airport is an airport located in the southeast coast of South Africa, serving the small city there called East London. Like many other areas in the southeast South African coast, East London has experienced massive growth in recent years.

From what we’ve noticed here at Skyscanner, East London’s tourism industry is growing, and though it still struggles with developmental issues like clean water and petty crime, can be a beautiful and inexpensive vacation if you’re willing to go through the effort of making your way down there.

Once you’re there, you’ll find that 20% of the population speaks English, and everyone is very friendly.

Airlines That Fly To East London Airport

If you’re trying to get to East London, you’ll be flying there via Airlink, FlySafair, Kukula, SAA, or South African Express.

These are regional airlines, all of which are limited to travel within South Africa itself. If you’re looking to travel into East London from afar, you’ll need to book a few intermediate flights to get you from wherever you are all the way down to the major hubs in South Africa that offer service to East London.

When To Book A Flight To East London

If you’re looking for a beach vacation or spending time wandering around one of the private game reserves, the summer is the best time to visit—and also the most expensive. Wintertime temperatures can get a little chilly—as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit, but if you’re willing to put on a jacket, East London is just as princely as in the summer.

Using our price alert tool here at Skyscanner will clue you into any oddball price drops, but you should expect that prices stay fairly consistent along seasonal lines.

Airport Facilities At East London Airport

You’ll find few facilities at the East London Airport, so be sure to have everything in order before you depart. The best way to get from the airport to East London itself is by cab. Cabs park right out front of the airport’s main doorways and are impossible to miss. Your cab ride should be about five minutes before you’re in the city center.

What To See And Do In East London

Most of the tourist season revolves around the balmy temperatures that start in December and end in May. If you travel to East London, you can enjoy its esplanade, rocky beaches, scenic bay, or even a safari at one of East London’s three private game reserves.

There are also a number of beautiful golfing greens in the areas surrounding East London, so if you’re a golfer, you can pay less than a dollar for eighteen holes.

If you want to have an active time in East London, try picking up martial arts or cricket, both of which are very popular. If it looks like there are people having karate fights in public, it’s not out of anger—and it’s not karate, either. Aikido practice is one of East London’s unique features that’s impossible to find anywhere else in the world.