Leaders of the world’s largest economies will meet in Johannesburg on November 22 and 23 for the G20 Summit, the first time the summit is being held in Africa. The event, with a theme of “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”, will see tight slot and parking controls at Johannesburg (FAOR) and Lanseria (FALA) airports. Operators flying to Johannesburg around those dates should get slots and handling confirmed in advance. For the G20, all permits are managed by DIRCO via the various countries’ diplomatic channels.

Restricted Area

There is a 20 NM restricted area around the G20 venue, which requires special security clearance to enter, though it doesn’t include either airport. Temporary restricted airspace declared and to be activated when required for safety and security purposes during the G20 Summit 2025 Johannesburg. No flights allowed within this airspace except for Emergency Services or Vehicle Track on official callouts. Emergency or Vehicle Track Operators are to apply, at least 72 hours prior to operations, for a RSA04 Clearance. Flight plans without the required RSA04 Clearance Number will be rejected. Local law enforcement and military aircraft are not required to comply with RSA04 application process.

Restricted Airspace Activation and Deactivation will be made by NOTAM. Pilots are required to check for the latest NOTAM prior to take-off. No aircraft, paraglider or remotely piloted aircraft system may be operated during the period that temporary restricted airspace is active. Only commercial and scheduled flights inbound to, or outbound from FAOR or FALA will be allowed. Only military and local law enforcement aircraft will be allowed to operate within this temporarily restricted airspace.

Commercial and scheduled flights inbound to and outbound from FAOR and FALA will be accommodated as per specific ATC instructions to strictly comply with ATC routing instructions to remain outside a 5NM radius of NASREC. All flights (Rotary and Fixed Wing) operating within a 20NM radius around NASREC are required to file a flight plan. The RSA04 Clearance Number to be indicated. Military and local law enforcement aircraft are exempt. All traffic is to be equipped with a serviceable transponder and to squawk as allocated. All portions of the VFR Routes inside the 20NM radius will be closed. FAWK/Pinedene VFR Route will be closed. No training flights will be allowed. No local flights will be allowed during the period that the temporary restricted airspace is active.

O.R. Tambo International Airport

IATA: JNB
ICAO: FAOR
Coordinates: S26-08.0 / E028-14.5
Elevation: 5558 ft / 1694 m
Time zone: UTC +2
Fuel types: Jet A1
Ground frequency: 118.6
Tower frequency: 118.6
Location: 23km north-west of Johannesburg city center and 46 km south of Pretoria city center

Arrival process

Soon after taxiing, the aircraft will be positioned at Gate 2, where SUITE-A (Principal) and SUITE-B (Passengers and Media) will disembark. SUITE-B will disembark first, including security personnel and media representatives, who will utilize the rear steps.
The principal passenger (SUITE-A), such as the president or prime minister, will disembark last through the front door, where the official salute or ceremony will be conducted before the principal is escorted to their onward movement.
All remaining passengers will then be escorted to buses for transfer to the terminal, where they will proceed through the Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) process and baggage collection at dedicated carousel.
Soon after disembarkation, the aircraft will be repositioned to a secondary parking bay for servicing, which will include the offloading of luggage, fuelling, catering, water replenishment, and lavatory servicing.
Once all services are complete, the crew will disembark with their luggage, while engineering crew remain on board to reposition the aircraft to the South African Airways Technical facility, where it will remain until the following day. The remaining crew will be transported to the main terminal for CIQ process and engineering will join soon after repark.

Departure process

Engineering personnel are expected to arrive in sufficient time to reposition the aircraft to the designated secondary bay.
Once the aircraft is secured at the secondary bay, the remainder of the crew will join to commence service operations.
Luggage is to arrive at least two hours prior to departure, tagging will be conducted at the designated counters, baggage will be pre-printed and tagged in bulk to ensure efficiency.
An accurate passenger manifest must be provided in advance, boarding passes will be pre-printed and distributed without requiring face-to-face verification.
Passengers will be escorted through Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ). They will then proceed to the boarding gates, where they will remain until receiving “OKAY TO BOARD” clearance. Transportation to the aircraft will be arranged.
All servicing and baggage operations will be completed at the secondary bay. Following completion, the aircraft will be repositioned to Gate 2. Once doors are closed, the aircraft will be moved to the designated departure bay as directed.
Turnaround Target for operational goal is a 20–25-minute turnaround at GATE parking bay area, where feasible, adjustments will be made to accommodate protocol activities.
Boarding sequence will prioritize all passengers first, with number one arriving and boarding last.

Pretoria - Waterkloof Air Force Base

IATA: WKF
ICAO: FAWK
Coordinates: S25-49.7 / E028-13.4
Elevation: 4940
Fuel types: AVGAS, Jet

Pre-Arrival Coordination

Flight planning - confirm aircraft arrival and departure slots with the handler, ensure fuelling arrangements are scheduled in advance, for smooth security Clearance accurate GD must be sent prior to the airport authorities and crew must have their passport at hand.
For equipment - Preparation handler has verified that there will be no tow bar available, operator to bring their own with the pin.
VIP PAX to use the designated VIP channel (capacity is limited) and non-VIP passengers directed through standard channels.
Crew members undergo stringent security checks before clearance.
Fuelling conducted immediately after arrival or as per schedule, the fueller does not have the steps, the handler will provide scissor lift.
Transport will be provided by the airport; no handlers transportation is allowed, the airport is very small and it’s a walking distance.
No additional security is allowed to guard the aircraft.

Arrival

FAWK airport is small with VIP facility, PAX movement will be quick and smooth.
Flight will be parked at designated area where disembarkation will be done.
The aircraft will be repositioned to another bay where all services to be done, including fuelling, baggage offloading, aircraft cleaning, water and LAV services.
Then crew will disembark after all services are completed.
Crew will then clear CIQ and will be handed over to their respective transport.

Departure Procedures

Crew will arrive and clear CIQ and will be escorted to the aircraft where all services be performed.
Passenger luggage will arrive be loaded onto the aircraft and once all services are complete, the aircraft will be repositioned to the designated bay.
Passengers will embark and number one will board last.

Visit the official G20 Africa website here.

For support with your flight operations to G20 and VIP Supervision, contact UAS.