1974: The Opening of an International Airport in South Africa

August 16, 1974

In the Republic of South Africa, Lanseria International Airport in the province of Gauteng was officially opened. This airport is located to the northwest of Johannesburg, the largest city in South Africa. Those taking part in the inauguration of Lanseria International Airport included Hannes Rall, the county’s minister of transport at that time.

Just a couple of years earlier, this airport started out as a grass strip airfield developed by pilots Fanie Haacke and Abe Sher. The full-fledged version of the airport was ultimately built to help alleviate traffic congestion at Jan Smuts International Airport (now known as O.R. Tambo International Airport) in the city of Kempton Park in Gauteng.

Lanseria International Airport attracted worldwide attention in 1990 when anti-apartheid activist and future South African president Nelson Mandela was flown there following his release from prison. Mandela’s arrival at the airport marked a key part of his return trip to his hometown of Soweto (a township in Gauteng).

Photo Credit: Public Domain

For more information on Lanseria International Airport, please check out  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lanseria_International_Airport and https://lanseria.co.za/corporate/about/the-lanseria-journey/