Qantas will launch the first non-stop flights between Cape Town and Australia in October 2027, introducing a seasonal service between Cape Town and Sydney.
Source: Supplied | Qantas
The route will operate from 19 October 2027 to 25 March 2028, subject to government and regulatory approval. Flights will run three times a week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
The new service will add almost 30,000 seats between South Africa and Australia. It will complement Qantas' existing direct flights from Johannesburg to Perth and Sydney, while giving travellers access to onward connections across Australia's domestic network, including Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as New Zealand.
New route strengthens tourism links
The route is expected to support travel in both directions, with more than 224,000 South African-born people living in Australia, making them the country's seventh-largest migrant community.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the service would make it easier for Australians to visit the Western Cape and for South Africans to travel to Australia.
“Cape Town is one of the world’s great cities and Australia’s appetite to visit has never been stronger. Our new direct flights from Sydney to Cape Town will make it easier for more Australians to experience everything the Western Cape has to offer, bringing more visitors directly into the region and supporting its tourism economy.
“At the same time, South Africans will have a new seamless way to travel to Australia, whether that’s to visit family and friends, explore the country or connect onwards through our domestic network. The timing also couldn’t be better with the Rugby World Cup in Australia taking place just as our flights begin, giving Springboks fans a new direct way to travel to Sydney for the biggest games of the tournament.”
Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander said the route would create opportunities for tourism, trade, investment and business exchange.
“Direct air access is one of the most important drivers of tourism growth, which is why the launch of the new Sydney-Cape Town service is such a significant development for the Western Cape.
“Australia is an important and growing tourism market for our destination and this route will unlock new opportunities for tourism, trade, investment and business exchange, while making it easier than ever for Australian travellers to visit our region.
“It will also support job creation and help grow the visitor economy across the Western Cape, further cementing Cape Town and the Western Cape’s position as a leading gateway to Africa and a destination that is open for business.”
Increasing SA and Australia capacity
The new route comes 75 years after Qantas first operated a scheduled passenger service to South Africa. In 1952, its Wallaby Route to Johannesburg took 66 hours, travelling via Perth, the Cocos Islands and Mauritius.
The Cape Town-Sydney service is being made possible by the arrival of new Qantas 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft in late 2027, as part of the airline's largest fleet renewal programme.
Flight QF90 is scheduled to depart Cape Town at 4.40pm and arrive in Sydney at 1.45pm the following day.
The seasonal service is scheduled to go on sale on 6 November 2026.
