Qantas to introduce the A380 on the SYD to JNB route

• First ever A380 flights between South Africa and Australia take off
• Extra 130,000 seats per year

• Reintroduction of First Class and doubling of Premium Economy seats

Travellers will make history today on board Qantas’ inaugural Airbus A380 flight from Johannesburg to Sydney, the first time the national carrier has operated the Superjumbo from Africa.

The A380 will fly up to six times per week and will see a near-doubling of capacity, with an extra 130,000 seats between South Africa and Australia every year. The Qantas A380 has capacity for 485 passengers across four cabins, with the introduction of the Superjumbo seeing a return of First Class on the route for the first time since 2018. Qantas First features 14individual suites arranged in an exclusive 1-1-1 configuration and convert into a 212-centimetre bed. Theupgauge will also more than double the number of Premium Economy seats available between the cities.

The mega aircraft also features an upper deck lounge for passengers in First and Business, with booth-styleseating for 10 people, a self-service bar and an option to order signature drinks and snacks.

Qantas first touched down in South Africa in 1948 with a Lancastrian survey flight from Sydney via Perth, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Mauritius to Johannesburg. The first passenger services commenced along the same route in September 1952 using a Lockheed Constellation L-749A. The journey took 66 hours and became affectionately known as the Wallaby Route – a nod to the Kangaroo Route from Australia to London.

Today, the Flying Kangaroo’s flights are nonstop, with the upgauge heralding the first A380 flight by anyairline across the southern Indian Ocean. The Australian national carrier also intends to relaunch flights from Johannesburg to Perth from mid-2025,subject to meeting border agency requirements in Western Australia.

Qantas and Airlink establish codeshare

The significant increase in capacity comes as Qantas announces a new codeshare partnership with Airlink, substantially expanding its inbound network into South Africa. Qantas will add the QF code on Airlink’s domestic network, enabling seamless connectivity between Qantas
flights to Johannesburg and nine South African destinations. The carrier hopes to add additional Airlink destinations in nearby southern African countries over the coming months, pending regulatory approval.