Qantas will begin nonstop passenger flights between Sydney Airport and Cape Town International Airport on October 19, 2027. The seasonal service will operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays until March 24, 2028, using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. Flight QF89 will depart Sydney at 9:15 a.m. local time, arriving in Cape Town at 2:40 p.m. local time after approximately 14 hours and 25 minutes in the air.
Fares and Fleet Expansion
Tickets for the Sydney to Cape Town route went on sale November 6, 2026, with economy return fares starting at A$2,470. Qantas projects the service will add almost 30,000 seats between
Australia and South Africa during its seasonal operation. This expansion is supported by new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners scheduled to join the Qantas fleet in late 2027.
Existing Routes and Passenger Demand
Qantas currently offers nonstop flights from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg. The new Cape Town service is designed to complement these existing routes, not replace them. Passengers traveling from Australia to Cape Town have commonly connected through Johannesburg using Qantas-operated flights and onward segments on Airlink. Cam Wallace, CEO of Qantas International, noted that tens of thousands of passengers use these connections annually, demonstrating demand for a direct nonstop alternative.
Australian Visitor Numbers and Demographics
Over 120,000 Australians visited
South Africa in 2025. By June 2026, Australia had become South Africa’s third-largest overseas visitor source market, surpassing Germany, with arrivals growing 19% compared to June 2025. Nearly 225,000 South African-born people reside in Australia, about 25% of whom live in New South Wales, the Australian state where Sydney is located.
Historical Context and Official Responses
The nonstop Sydney to Cape Town flights mark 75 years since Qantas initiated scheduled passenger services to South Africa in 1952. The original Wallaby Route to Johannesburg took 66 hours with multiple stops at Perth, the Cocos Islands, and Mauritius. The new route cuts travel time significantly, providing a
nonstop journey of under 15 hours. Australia’s Minister for Trade and Tourism, Don Farrell, welcomed the new service, emphasizing its role in expanding travel options and bilateral connections. Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro, the Western Cape tourism and trade promotion agency, stated the direct air link was expected to boost tourism, business travel, and trade between Australia and South Africa’s Western Cape.
