Airports / South Africa / ELS
King Phalo Airport.
East London, South Africa · 435 ft elevation. A private-aviation gateway on the Bravo register.
FAEL
IATA ELS
0
Operators based
435
Elevation ft
Field elevation
Nearest alternate
Field standing
29 nm
To the nearest alternate
Bisho Airport (BIY).
Overview
Located in East London, South Africa, King Phalo Airport (FAEL / ELS) operates as a large commercial airport. The airport sits 435 feet above sea level. Alongside scheduled airline service, the airport handles a steady flow of private and charter traffic.
No charter operator is headquartered on the field, but operators routinely position aircraft into ELS for departures. When weather or ramp space demands it, nearby options are Bisho Airport (BIY, 29 nm), Queenstown Airport (UTW, 82 nm), and K. D. Matanzima Airport (UTT, 99 nm). With 2 runways, the longest 6,362-foot paved runway, ELS can typically accommodate aircraft as large as VIP airliners.
Charter pricing from ELS depends on aircraft category, positioning distance, and trip timing. Compare rated operators or run a route through the cost estimator to gauge pricing from East London.
Run an FBO at FAEL? Become the preferred FBO
Field capability
ICAO
FAEL
IATA
ELS
FAA / Local
FAEL
Elevation
435 ft
Coordinates
33.0356° S · 27.8259° E
Airspace
G · GolfClass G, GolfUncontrolled field, no tower. Pilots self-announce and sequence themselves on the common traffic advisory frequency.Source: FAA NASR class airspace
Size
Large
Scheduled svc
Yes
Elevation vs South Africa fields
state range 20–5,700 ft
At 435 ft, ELS sits lower than 79% of the 62 South Africa fields on the register.
Runways & aircraft access
2 runways
longest 6,362 ft
- 11/296,362 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
- 06/245,200 ft × 150 ftAsphaltLighted
Which aircraft can operate here
vs longest paved runway 6,362 ft
ELS's 6,362 ft paved runway typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners.
- Turboprop3,000 ft
- Light Jet3,500 ft
- Midsize Jet4,500 ft
- Super-Midsize Jet5,000 ft
- Heavy Jet5,500 ft
- VIP Airliner6,000 ft
Class minimums are sea-level planning rules of thumb. A specific aircraft's balanced-field length varies with weight, temperature, and field elevation. Confirm performance with the operator.
Access & alternates
Closest alternate fields by great-circle distance, every listing links to its own field brief.
- 29nmBIYBisho AirportBisho
- 82nmUTWQueenstown AirportQueenstown
- 99nmUTTK. D. Matanzima AirportMthatha
- 122nmJOHPort St Johns AirportPort St Johns
- 125nmPLZChief Dawid Stuurman International AirportGqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- 183nmMGHMargate AirportMargate
Location
Open the full mapFAEL · King Phalo Airport · East London, South Africa
Flight times from here
Approximate nonstop block times from ELS on a typical midsize charter jet. Faster classes trim these; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.
| Destination | Distance | Block time |
|---|---|---|
| Boston (BED) | 7,071 nm | 16h 51m |
| Miami (MIA) | 7,094 nm | 16h 54m |
| Palm Beach (PBI) | 7,108 nm | 16h 56m |
| New York (TEB) | 7,154 nm | 17h 2m |
| Washington DC (IAD) | 7,263 nm | 17h 17m |
| Nashville (BNA) | 7,627 nm | 18h 8m |
| Chicago (ORD) | 7,771 nm | 18h 28m |
| Houston (HOU) | 7,918 nm | 18h 49m |
Common questions
- What size private jets can use ELS?
- King Phalo Airport's longest paved runway is 6,362 ft, which typically supports charter aircraft up to VIP airliners. Lighter classes (turboprops, light and midsize jets) operate comfortably; confirm exact performance for a specific tail with the operator, since balanced-field length shifts with weight, temperature, and elevation.
- What is the longest runway at ELS?
- King Phalo Airport has 2 runways; the longest measures 6,362 ft on a paved surface and is lit for night operations.
- What is the nearest major airport to ELS?
- The closest alternate is Bisho Airport (BIY), about 29 nm away, followed by Queenstown Airport (UTW) at 82 nm. Operators often position aircraft between these fields depending on ramp space and availability.
- How long is a flight from ELS to major cities?
- Typical block times on a midsize jet: Boston about 16h 51m (7,071 nm), Miami about 16h 54m (7,094 nm), Palm Beach about 16h 56m (7,108 nm). Faster classes trim these times; add positioning and taxi for the real schedule.