Qantas will begin nonstop flights between Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport and Cape Town International Airport on October 19, 2027. This 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. and land in Cape Town at 2:40 p.m. local time after approximately 14 hours and 25 minutes in the air. The seasonal schedule will add close to 30,000 seats between Australia and South Africa. Economy return fares started at A$2,470 when tickets went on sale on November 6, 2026.
This new
nonstop route provides a direct connection to South Africa’s Western Cape, complementing Qantas’s existing nonstop flights from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg. Passengers currently reaching Cape Town via Johannesburg use connecting flights operated by Airlink. The new service removes the need for transfers through Johannesburg or other hubs. The introduction of additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners joining Qantas’s fleet in late 2027 will support this route’s launch.
Demand for nonstop travel between Australia and South Africa is reflected in over 120,000 Australian visitors to South Africa in 2025. Australia became South Africa’s third-largest overseas visitor market in June 2026, surpassing Germany,
with arrivals from Australia increasing 19% year-over-year. Approximately 225,000 South African-born people reside in Australia, with about one-quarter living in New South Wales.
The launch of this nonstop route marks 75 years since Qantas began scheduled passenger services to South Africa. The original 1952 Wallaby Route to Johannesburg took 66 hours with multiple stops, contrasting with the under 15-hour nonstop Sydney to Cape Town flight now scheduled. Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism and Wesgro’s CEO have emphasized the route’s potential to grow tourism, trade, and investment between Australia and the Western Cape.
Qantas International’s CEO pointed to the tens
of thousands of passengers traveling via Johannesburg annually as clear evidence of demand for a nonstop alternative. The service will simplify travel by eliminating stopovers, offering travelers a direct option between Sydney and Cape Town while maintaining existing Johannesburg routes.
