Qantas announces direct Cape Town-Sydney flights from October 2027 - IOL

Cape Town will be connected directly to Australia for the first time when Qantas launches seasonal non-stop flights between Sydney and Cape Town in October 2027, adding almost 30,000 seats between South Africa and Australia.

Cape Town is set to get its first direct air link with Australia, with Qantas announcing a new seasonal non-stop service between Sydney and the Mother City from October 2027.

The flights, which go on sale today, will operate during Australia's summer travel season until March 2028, using the airline's Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The new route will give South African travellers more options when flying to Australia, complementing Qantas' existing direct services from Johannesburg to Perth and Sydney.

It will also offer passengers travelling from Cape Town improved access to Qantas' domestic network, with connections to destinations such as Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as onward travel to New Zealand.

Once operational, the new service is expected to add almost 30,000 seats between South Africa and Australia.

The route will be made possible by the arrival of new Qantas 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft in late 2027, forming part of the airline's largest fleet renewal programme in its history.

The announcement is particularly significant for travellers visiting family and friends, with more than 224,000 South African-born people living in Australia.

According to Qantas, South Africans make up Australia's seventh-largest migrant community, highlighting the demand for improved connectivity between the two countries.

The new service also comes 75 years after Qantas first operated a scheduled passenger service to South Africa.

In 1952, the airline's original Wallaby Route to Johannesburg took 66 hours, with stops in Perth, the Cocos Islands and Mauritius.

Qantas has announced direct seasonal flights between Cape Town and Sydney from October 2027.

The direct connection is also expected to create opportunities for tourism, trade and investment in the Western Cape by making the region more accessible to Australian visitors.

Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the airline had seen growing interest from Australians wanting to visit Cape Town and the wider Western Cape.

“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,” he said.

Wallace added that the service would give South Africans a more convenient way to visit Australia, whether travelling to see family and friends, explore the country or connect to other destinations.

The timing is also significant for rugby supporters, with the flights launching as Australia prepares to host the Rugby World Cup in 2027.

The new route will provide Springboks supporters with another direct travel option when heading to Sydney for the tournament.

Wesgro CEO Wrenelle Stander welcomed the announcement, describing direct air access as an important driver of tourism growth.

“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,” she said.

Stander said the service would also support job creation and strengthen the Western Cape's visitor economy.

The new Sydney-Cape Town route is expected to further position Cape Town and the Western Cape as an international gateway to Africa.