Qantas has announced the first-ever non-stop flights between Sydney and Cape Town, giving travellers a direct link to South Africa’s Mother City for the first time. The seasonal service starts on 19 October 2027, with bookings already open.
Quick answer: Qantas flight QF89 will fly Sydney to Cape Town non-stop three times a week (Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays) on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The flight takes about 14 hours and 25 minutes, leaving Sydney at 9:15am and landing in Cape Town at 2:40pm the same day. Economy return fares start from A$2,470. You can check the latest fares and book on the Qantas website.
When do the Sydney to Cape Town flights start?
The first flight departs Sydney on Tuesday 19 October 2027. The service is seasonal and runs through Cape Town’s summer until 24 March 2028.
Qantas announced the route on 6 November 2026 at its annual general meeting. It is the first time any airline has flown non-stop between Australia and Cape Town.
QF89 schedule: Sydney to Cape Town
| Detail | Sydney to Cape Town |
|---|---|
| Flight number | QF89 |
| First flight | 19 October 2027 |
| Season | Until 24 March 2028 |
| Days | Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays |
| Departs Sydney | 9:15am |
| Arrives Cape Town | 2:40pm, same day |
| Flight time | About 14 hours and 25 minutes |
| Aircraft | Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner |
The return flight, QF90, leaves Cape Town at 5:55pm and lands in Sydney at 2:50pm the following day. All times are local.
How much do the flights cost?
Bookings opened on 6 November 2026, the day of the announcement. Economy return fares start from A$2,470. Early listings put business class return fares at around A$10,000, though prices will vary by date and demand.
As with any new long-haul route, the cheapest seats are likely to go first on popular dates, especially around Christmas and the New Year when Cape Town is in peak summer season. If your dates are flexible, midweek departures in November or February are usually better value than the festive period.
Why this route matters
Until now, anyone flying from Sydney to Cape Town has had to connect somewhere — usually through Johannesburg. Qantas already flies non-stop from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg, and tens of thousands of its customers each year then connect to Cape Town on partner airline Airlink. The new service cuts out that stop entirely.
Demand is clearly there. 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 Australian arrivals up 19 per cent on the year before. Almost 225,000 South African-born people live in Australia, and around a quarter of them live in New South Wales, so the route also serves a large visiting-friends-and-relatives market.
“Cape Town is a true bucket-list city and Australia’s appetite to visit has never been stronger,” Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said. “Each year, tens of thousands of customers use our existing Johannesburg services to connect to Cape Town through our partner airlines Airlink, so we know there’s strong demand for a non-stop service.”
Qantas says the route will add almost 30,000 seats between Australia and South Africa over the season. The service is made possible by new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners arriving from late 2027 as part of the airline’s fleet renewal.
A 75-year journey to Cape Town
The launch comes 75 years after Qantas’ first scheduled passenger service to South Africa. In 1952, the airline’s Wallaby Route to Johannesburg took 66 hours, travelling via Perth, the Cocos Islands and Mauritius. The new Sydney to Cape Town flight takes under 15 hours.
Cape Town will be Qantas’ third non-stop destination in South Africa, alongside Sydney–Johannesburg and Perth–Johannesburg. The new route also opens up a handy option for travellers planning a longer South African trip: fly into Cape Town and return from Johannesburg, or the other way around, instead of passing through the same airport twice.
What to know before you book
Check that your passport is valid for your travel dates and that you have enough blank pages for entry stamps. Fares are priced in Australian dollars for bookings made here, and the usual Qantas change and cancellation rules apply to the fare type you choose — read them before you pay, as the cheapest economy fares are the least flexible.
Because the route does not start until October 2027, schedules and prices may change before departure. If you book early, keep an eye on your email for any schedule updates from Qantas.
Frequently asked questions
When do Qantas’ direct Sydney to Cape Town flights start?
The seasonal service starts on 19 October 2027 and runs until 24 March 2028, covering Cape Town’s summer. Seats are on sale now.
Is this the first direct flight between Sydney and Cape Town?
Yes. It is the first-ever non-stop service between Australia and Cape Town. Qantas already flies non-stop from Sydney and Perth to Johannesburg.
How long is the Sydney to Cape Town flight?
About 14 hours and 25 minutes. QF89 departs Sydney at 9:15am and arrives in Cape Town at 2:40pm the same day.
How much are Qantas Sydney to Cape Town flights?
Economy return fares start from A$2,470. Business class return fares are around A$10,000, depending on the date.
What aircraft flies the Sydney to Cape Town route?
A Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, with new aircraft arriving from late 2027 as part of Qantas’ fleet renewal.
