(Image: Qantas Official Website)

Qantas has announced that South Africans planning to visit Australia will soon have a more convenient travel option, with the first non-stop flights between Cape Town and Sydney.

This is a seasonal service that launched in October, 2027, just in time for the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup, and will strengthen air links between the two countries.

The Cape Town–Sydney route will operate three times a week – on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays – with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner as the aircraft used for flights.  

Qantas expects the route to add almost 30 000 seats between South Africa and Australia during its first season.

The biggest benefit is the elimination of connecting flights through Johannesburg or other international hubs – especially for travellers in the Western Cape. Flight QF90 will depart from Cape Town at 16:40 and arrive in Sydney at 13:45 the following day. The return service, QF89, will leave Sydney at 09:15 and land in Cape Town at 14:40 on the same day, after a flight of approximately 14 hours and 25 minutes.

Return economy fares start from approximately R20 499, but ticket prices will vary according to travel dates and demand. Travellers will also have access to onward connections from Sydney to major Australian cities, including Melbourne and Brisbane, as well as New Zealand.

The timing will interest Springbok supporters travelling to Australia for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, which runs from 1 October to 13 November. As the service starts after the opening rounds, it will be particularly useful for fans attending the knockout matches, including the final in Sydney. South Africa will head into the tournament seeking a third consecutive world title, giving local rugby supporters another reason to consider the trip.

Additionally, the new flights are expected to benefit South African tourism, business travel and families with connections in Australia. Almost 225 000 South African-born people live in Australia, creating steady demand for travel between the countries. A direct link to Cape Town will make family visits more straightforward while giving Australians easier access to the Western Cape.

Tourism officials also see the service as an opportunity to attract more international visitors. More than 120,000 Australians visited South Africa in 2025, according to Qantas. Wesgro, the Western Cape’s tourism, trade and investment promotion agency, says improved air access can support tourism spending, jobs, trade and investment across the province.

The new service will complement Qantas’ existing direct flights linking Johannesburg with Sydney and Perth. For South African travellers, this means more choice when planning holidays, business trips or visits to relatives, without relying on a connecting flight from Cape Town.

Tickets for the direct Cape Town–Sydney flights are already on sale, giving travellers time to plan ahead for the 2027 rugby tournament and the southern hemisphere summer holiday season.

The first flight from Sydney was scheduled for October 19, 2027, and services will continue until March 24, 2028.