Qantas Announces Australia's First Nonstop Flights to Cape Town
By Chloe · Published 06 Nov 2026 · Updated 06 Nov 2026
Sydney, NSW · New South Wales News
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Qantas Announces Australia's First Nonstop Flights to Cape Town - Sydney, NSW
Smart summary
Qantas will introduce direct flights between Sydney and Cape Town from October 2027, creating a new international travel connection between Australia and South Africa.
Australian airline Qantas has announced a major expansion of its international flight network, introducing Australia's first nonstop passenger service between Sydney and Cape Town in South Africa. The announcement was made on Friday, 6 November 2026, giving Australian travellers a new option for reaching one of Africa's most popular tourism destinations.
The new service is scheduled to begin on 19 October 2027 and will operate seasonally until 24 March 2028. The flights will connect Sydney Airport directly with Cape Town International Airport, eliminating the need for passengers to change planes in Johannesburg when travelling on this route.
According to the announcement, the service will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Qantas plans to use its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft for the route. The flight is expected to take approximately 14 hours and 25 minutes.
Flight QF89 is scheduled to depart Sydney at 9:15 am and arrive in Cape Town at 2:40 pm on the same day, according to the published timetable. Return economy fares are starting from approximately AU$2,470.
The airline expects the new route to add almost 30,000 seats between Australia and South Africa during the seasonal operating period. The service will complement Qantas's existing international flights from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg.
The announcement comes as travel demand between Australia and South Africa continues to grow. More than 120,000 Australians visited South Africa during 2025. Australia also became South Africa's third-largest overseas source market in June 2026, overtaking Germany, with visitor arrivals increasing by 19 per cent year on year.
The new connection is also expected to make international travel easier for families and communities with connections between the two countries. Almost 225,000 South African-born people live in Australia, with approximately one-quarter residing in New South Wales.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the airline had identified strong demand for direct travel to Cape Town. Many passengers currently travel through Johannesburg before connecting to Cape Town using partner airline services.
The announcement also has historical significance for Qantas. The airline began scheduled passenger services to South Africa 75 years ago. Its original Wallaby Route to Johannesburg started in 1952 and took approximately 66 hours, with stops through Perth, the Cocos Islands and Mauritius.
Tourism representatives have welcomed the development, highlighting opportunities for increased visitor numbers, business connections, investment and employment. Direct flights could make it easier for Australian tourists to explore Cape Town and the Western Cape region while also improving access for South African visitors travelling to Australia.
The new Sydney–Cape Town service represents an important development in Australia's international aviation network. Although passengers will have to wait until October 2027 for the first flight, bookings are already available following the announcement on 6 November 2026.
CapeSouthTownAfricaInternational
Australian airline Qantas has announced a major expansion of its international flight network, introducing Australia's first nonstop passenger service between Sydney and Cape Town in South Africa. The announcement was made on Friday, 6 November 2026, giving Australian travellers a new option for reaching one of Africa's most popular tourism destinations.
The new service is scheduled to begin on 19 October 2027 and will operate seasonally until 24 March 2028. The flights will connect Sydney Airport directly with Cape Town International Airport, eliminating the need for passengers to change planes in Johannesburg when travelling on this route.
According to the announcement, the service will operate three times a week, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Qantas plans to use its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft for the route. The flight is expected to take approximately 14 hours and 25 minutes.
Flight QF89 is scheduled to depart Sydney at 9:15 am and arrive in Cape Town at 2:40 pm on the same day, according to the published timetable. Return economy fares are starting from approximately AU$2,470.
The airline expects the new route to add almost 30,000 seats between Australia and South Africa during the seasonal operating period. The service will complement Qantas's existing international flights from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg.
The announcement comes as travel demand between Australia and South Africa continues to grow. More than 120,000 Australians visited South Africa during 2025. Australia also became South Africa's third-largest overseas source market in June 2026, overtaking Germany, with visitor arrivals increasing by 19 per cent year on year.
The new connection is also expected to make international travel easier for families and communities with connections between the two countries. Almost 225,000 South African-born people live in Australia, with approximately one-quarter residing in New South Wales.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the airline had identified strong demand for direct travel to Cape Town. Many passengers currently travel through Johannesburg before connecting to Cape Town using partner airline services.
The announcement also has historical significance for Qantas. The airline began scheduled passenger services to South Africa 75 years ago. Its original Wallaby Route to Johannesburg started in 1952 and took approximately 66 hours, with stops through Perth, the Cocos Islands and Mauritius.
Tourism representatives have welcomed the development, highlighting opportunities for increased visitor numbers, business connections, investment and employment. Direct flights could make it easier for Australian tourists to explore Cape Town and the Western Cape region while also improving access for South African visitors travelling to Australia.
The new Sydney–Cape Town service represents an important development in Australia's international aviation network. Although passengers will have to wait until October 2027 for the first flight, bookings are already available following the announcement on 6 November 2026.
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