Qantas announced it will begin a seasonal direct non-stop service between Sydney, Australia, and Cape Town, South Africa, starting 19 October 2027 and running until 24 March 2028. This marks the first direct air connection between these two cities.
Flight Schedule and Aircraft Details
The route will operate three times per week on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Flight QF89 will depart Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport at 09:15 and arrive at Cape Town International Airport at 14:40 local time. The flight duration is approximately 14 hours and 25 minutes. Services will be operated using Qantas’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
Passenger Demand and Market Significance
The new route addresses the rising demand
from Australian travelers visiting South Africa, with more than 120,000 Australians having visited South Africa in 2025. By June 2026, Australia became South Africa’s third-largest overseas visitor market, surpassing Germany, reflecting a 19% year-on-year increase in visitor arrivals. Approximately 225,000 South African-born people reside in Australia, a quarter of whom live in New South Wales, creating considerable demand for direct travel options.
Industry and Government Perspectives
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said, “Cape Town is a true bucket-list city and Australia’s appetite to visit has never been stronger,” noting strong demand from passengers currently connecting via Johannesburg. Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander described the route
as a critical development for tourism, investment, and economic growth in the Western Cape. Australia’s Minister for Trade and Tourism, Senator Don Farrell, called the route an important new link between the two countries.
Historical and Aviation Context
Qantas first served South Africa in 1952 with its Wallaby Route connecting Australia and Johannesburg over multiple stops, a journey taking about 66 hours. The new Sydney–Cape Town service, enabled by Qantas’ ongoing fleet renewal including new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners arriving in late 2027, will allow same-day travel from Sydney to Cape Town. The addition of this route will increase seat capacity between Australia and South
Africa by nearly 30,000 seats for the season.
Cape Town’s direct connection to Australia complements expanded international links provided by airlines such as Airlink, KLM, Turkish Airlines, Air France, Norse Atlantic Airways, Condor, Edelweiss, and Virgin Atlantic, enhancing the city’s global accessibility.
