Qantas has launched A380 flights on its Sydney to Johannesburg route, marking the first time an A380 serves an African destination and nearly doubling capacity on this six-times-weekly service.
The A380 features 458 seats, which includes a reintroduction of first class and a significant increase in premium economy seats, providing an additional 130,000 seats annually between the two cities.
The airline has signed a codeshare agreement with Johannesburg-based Airlink, allowing Qantas to add its QF code to Airlink’s domestic flights to multiple South African destinations, with plans for more international routes pending regulatory approval.
Qantas also plans to start nonstop flights between Perth and Johannesburg by mid-2025 after resolving previous disputes, supported by a new 12-year agreement with Perth Airport involving significant investments in infrastructure.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace, said: “We are seeing strong demand for our Johannesburg services and, by upgrading to the superjumbo, we will nearly double capacity during peak periods, adding over 130,000 seats per year between the continents. Qantas has a rich history of flying to South Africa over the past 72 years, having operated Constellations and Super Constellations, Electras, 707s, 747s, Dreamliners and now the A380. The A380 is a favourite among our frequent flyers and it will be great to see the Flying Kangaroo in the land of the springbok. This extra capacity, combined with our new codeshare with Airlink, will significantly expand the options for Qantas customers heading to Africa, strengthening the connections between family and friends, business and trade as well as supporting the tourism industry on both sides of the Indian Ocean.”
