Qantas launches direct Sydney Cape Town flights

Australian airline Qantas has announced the first non-stop flight service between Sydney and Cape Town, with tickets now available for purchase. The flights will operate from October 2027, running until at least March 2028, and will depart on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

The new route will add nearly 30,000 seats between Australia and South Africa. The service will be made possible by a new Qantas 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, scheduled for delivery in late 2027. This aircraft is part of the largest fleet renewal in the airline’s history.

New Flight Details and History

The Sydney to Cape Town flights will land on the same day they depart. The return journey to Australia, however, will be affected by the time difference. The launch marks a significant milestone, coming 75 years after Qantas operated its first scheduled passenger service to South Africa in 1952.

That historic 1952 route, known as the Wallaby Route, took 66 hours and included stops in Perth, the Cocos Islands, and Mauritius before reaching Johannesburg. The new non-stop service represents a dramatic reduction in travel time.

Strong Demand for Travel

Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace called Cape Town a “true bucket-list city.” He noted that Australian demand for the destination has never been higher. “Each year, tens of thousands of customers use our existing Johannesburg services to connect to Cape Town through our partner airlines Airlink, so we know there’s strong demand for a non-stop service,” Wallace said.

The increased connectivity reflects growing tourism numbers. In 2025, more than 120,000 Australian tourists visited South Africa. In June of this year, Australia overtook Germany to become South Africa’s third-largest overseas source market, with arrivals from Australia increasing by 19% year-on-year.

The new route is also expected to strengthen ties between families and friends. Qantas noted that almost 225,000 South Africans live in Australia, with around a quarter residing in New South Wales.

Economic and Tourism Impact

Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell described the route as a “fantastic outcome for the tourism industry.” He added, “More planes in the sky means more options for Australian travellers and exporters, and of course international visitors to explore our wonderful sights.”