Qantas launches first non-stop Sydney–Cape Town flights, opening new direct link for South Africa
Qantas has announced its first-ever non-stop service between Sydney and Cape Town, with tickets on sale from 6 November 2026 for flights starting 27 October 2027. The new seasonal route will operate three times weekly until 23 March 2028, using the airline’s latest Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. This launch adds nearly 30,000 extra seats between Australia and South Africa for the 2027–28 summer, giving the African travel trade a new product to offer clients seeking direct access to the Western Cape.
The non-stop Sydney–Cape Town flights will run as QF63 (Sydney–Cape Town) and QF64 (Cape Town–Sydney), departing Sydney on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, and returning from Cape Town on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Passengers will leave Sydney in the morning and arrive in Cape Town the same day, making it easier to plan holidays, business trips or family visits. The return flight departs Cape Town in the evening and lands in Sydney the following day. This schedule is designed to support both leisure and diaspora travel, as well as open-jaw itineraries combining Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said, “We’re excited to add Cape Town to our international network and give Australians more choice for reaching South Africa non-stop. This new route responds to strong demand from both leisure travellers and the large South African community in Australia. It also marks a significant milestone as we celebrate 75 years of connecting Australia and South Africa.” Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace added, “Our new Sydney–Cape Town flights will make it easier for Australians to experience the best of South Africa, from the winelands to the Garden Route, and for South Africans to visit family and friends in Australia. The arrival of our new 787-9 Dreamliners enables us to open up new ultra-long-haul routes like this one.”
The new service is timed for Cape Town’s summer and festive season, when demand for accommodation and flights is highest. Leisure travellers will benefit from direct access to the Cape’s beaches, winelands and safari regions, while diaspora and family visitors can reach relatives more easily. The route also supports open-jaw bookings, allowing clients to fly into Cape Town and return from Johannesburg, or vice versa, using Qantas’ existing direct flights from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg. This flexibility may help agencies build more attractive packages for groups, MICE, and multi-destination travellers.
For the travel trade, the new flights are available for booking via Qantas.com and GDS from 6 November 2026. Introductory fares start from AUD 2,499 return (Economy) and AUD 6,999 return (Business) for select travel periods. Qantas Frequent Flyer members can use points for Classic Reward seats, subject to availability. Agencies should check for group booking policies, commission structures and fare rules as published by Qantas. The airline has not yet released details on seat configuration or whether the new Dreamliners will offer any changes to cabin layout or in-flight product compared to existing 787-9s.
The launch of Sydney–Cape Town creates a second Qantas gateway to South Africa, alongside the airline’s direct flights from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg. Until now, travellers from Australia had to reach Cape Town via Johannesburg or another hub, adding time and complexity to itineraries. The new route is expected to benefit family and friends travel, with nearly 225,000 South African-born people living in Australia, about a quarter in New South Wales. More than 120,000 Australians visited South Africa in 2025, and in June 2026, Australia overtook Germany to become South Africa’s third-largest overseas source market, with arrivals up 19% year on year.
For Cape Town-based travellers and South African agents, the new service offers a direct link to Sydney and easier connections to the rest of Australia and the Pacific. This may support outbound leisure, business and VFR (visiting friends and relatives) travel, as well as group and incentive bookings. Agencies should advise clients to book early for the peak summer period, as accommodation and flights fill up quickly during the festive season. The new route may also encourage more Australians to combine Cape Town with other Southern African destinations, boosting regional tourism flows.
In the wider market, Qantas’ move follows a trend of growing long-haul connectivity to Cape Town. United Airlines operates year-round non-stop flights from Washington Dulles and Newark, while Delta Air Lines flies from Atlanta. Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines all offer year-round non-stop services from their Middle Eastern and European hubs. However, as of 2026, no other airline offers direct flights from Australia or Oceania to Cape Town. Qantas’ new route fills a significant gap and positions the airline as the only carrier linking Australia and the Western Cape non-stop.
The announcement comes 75 years after Qantas’ first scheduled passenger service to South Africa. The original “Wallaby Route” to Johannesburg in 1952 took 66 hours and included stops in Perth, the Cocos Islands and Mauritius. Today’s non-stop Dreamliner service marks a major advance in speed and comfort, reflecting both technological progress and the growing importance of the Australia–South Africa corridor. The new flights are part of Qantas’ largest-ever fleet renewal, with the arrival of new 787-9s enabling ultra-long-haul routes.
Open questions remain about future seasons beyond March 2028, as well as seat configuration, interline and codeshare agreements, and feeder connections from other African cities. Qantas has not yet confirmed whether the Sydney–Cape Town route will become year-round or if additional frequencies will be added. Agencies should monitor for updates on trade terms, group rates and onward connections as the launch date approaches. The broader outlook is positive for Cape Town’s international air access and for sub-Saharan African travel sellers, who may find new opportunities to package Australia and the Western Cape for both inbound and outbound clients. The route’s success may encourage further expansion and strengthen Cape Town’s position as a global gateway.
Sources: Qantas, official newsroom, 6 November 2026; background: Sydney Airport, route info, 2026; United Airlines, route info, 2026; Delta Air Lines, route info, 2026; Emirates, route info, 2026;
