Qantas will fly Sydney to Cape Town non-stop from October 2027

Qantas has announced the first non-stop flights between Australia and Cape Town. The seasonal service starts on 19 October 2027. Tickets went on sale on 6 November 2026. The route is still subject to government and regulatory approval.

The schedule

Flights run three times a week, on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays, on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The first flight, QF89, leaves Sydney at 09:15 and lands in Cape Town at 14:40 the same day. The flight takes about 14 hours 25 minutes.

The return, QF90, is reported to leave Cape Town at 16:40 and reach Sydney at 13:45 the next day. Most reports give those times, but one gives different ones, so check the Qantas schedule before you book.

The season follows Cape Town's summer and ends in late March 2028. Reports give the final date as 24 or 25 March.

Why it matters

Until now, travellers between Australia and Cape Town have connected, usually through Johannesburg. Qantas says the new route adds almost 30 000 seats between the two countries. Reports of the announcement say more than 120 000 Australians visited South Africa in 2025, up 19 per cent on the year before.

It also allows open-jaw journeys: arrive in Cape Town, then leave from Johannesburg on Qantas's existing flights from there. Advertised return economy fares start at A$2,470, subject to availability.

What to keep in mind

A first season is not a promise. Approval is pending, and schedules can change. Read the fare conditions before you pay, because a route that depends on approval can move or be withdrawn.

Planning around it

For travellers from Australia, a 14:40 arrival suits a first evening in the city. The Cape Peninsula, the Winelands and the Garden Route are all within reach of Cape Town. A safari adds a domestic flight, and the open-jaw option means you do not have to double back.

For travellers from South Africa, Sydney becomes a single flight from Cape Town. Qantas's international chief has pointed out that the Rugby World Cup in Australia begins as the flights start, as a reason for Springbok fans to go.

This is general information, not airline advice. Schedules, fares and approvals can change.

Sources, checked on 12 November 2026: Bizcommunity, Travel News, Getaway, InsideFlyer, Aviation Week and ATTA.

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Grant · Godefroy Africa