Australian flag carrier Qantas has announced a new seasonal non-stop service between Sydney and Cape Town, marking the first time the two cities will be directly linked when flights take off in October 2027. Airline bookings
A Historic Milestone and Southern Hemisphere Network Expansion
The seasonal service will operate during Cape Town’s southern hemisphere summer months, running from October 2027 through March 2028. This route will complement the direct frequencies Qantas already operates from Perth and Sydney to Johannesburg, delivering greater flexibility and enhanced connectivity options between the two continents.
The launch coincides with the 75th anniversary of Qantas’ first scheduled passenger service to South Africa. In 1952, the carrier’s historic “Wallaby Route” to Johannesburg took 66 hours and required technical stops in Perth, the Cocos Islands, and Mauritius. With this new non-stop link, passengers will be able to depart Australia’s east coast in the morning and touch down on South African soil the very same day.
The launch of the route is made possible by the largest fleet renewal program in Qantas history, which includes the delivery of additional Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners in late 2027.
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Flight Schedule and Operational Details
Tickets are now on sale. Operational specifications for the service connecting Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) include:
- Flight number: QF89
- Inaugural flight: October 19, 2027
- Season end: March 24, 2028
- Frequency: Three weekly flights (Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays)
- Schedule: Departs Sydney at 09:15, arrives in Cape Town at 14:40
- Block time: 14 hours and 25 minutes
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace highlighted the strategic importance of the route:
“Cape Town is a bucket-list destination and demand from Australian travelers has never been stronger. Tens of thousands of our customers already fly via our Johannesburg services each year to connect through to Cape Town with our partner Airlink, so we know there is clear appetite for a non-stop service. The delivery of new 787s as part of our historic fleet renewal gives us the flexibility to grow our international network into destinations where our customers want to fly, while opening up new opportunities for our team.”
Flights are now available for booking via the airline’s website.
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