North America

Please be advised that effective 25 March 2019, new rules for checked baggage have been applied at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

The rules are as follows:

• Only regular-shaped bags will be allowed to be checked in. This means that the bags must have at least one flat surface to be accepted
• Round or irregular-shaped bags will not be allowed
• Bags with longs straps will not be allowed

This move is aimed at preventing blockages and breakdowns in the baggage-handling system caused by bags that do not have any flat surfaces or that have long straps or grips, as per IATA guidelines. These are the largest source of jams, and can shut down sections of the baggage-handling system thus delaying baggage delivery to aircraft and inconveniencing passengers and airlines.

Passengers who try to check in bags that do not conform to these rules will, however, have the option of having their baggage wrapped with one flat side at airport-approved baggage wrapping stations.

We request that you advise all concerned.

Thank you