Qantas has launched its inaugural Airbus A380 flight to Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport (JNB) from Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD).
QF 63, which departed Sydney 09:58 local time on September 30, 2024, is the first time the national carrier has operated the Superjumbo to Africa. The A380 is expected to arrive in Johannesburg at approximately 16:23 local time, after a flight time of 14 hours and 25 minutes.
The A380 will fly the route up to six times per week, and according to Qantas the service will bring an extra 130,000 seats between Australia and Africa every year.
The A380 service to Johannesburg offers four cabin classes, which means that First Class will now be available on the route again, the first time it has been offered since 2018. Qantas’ First Class cabin features 14 individual suites arranged in an exclusive 1-1-1 configuration, with the capacity to convert into a 212-centimeter bed. The upgrade will also more than double the number of Premium Economy seats available between the cities.
The upgrade to the SYD-JNB route comes as the Australian flag carrier announces a new codeshare partnership with Johannesburg-based carrier Airlink, substantially expanding its network into South Africa.
“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,” Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said in a statement.
“The A380 is a favorite 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,” Wallace added.
Qantas’ first flight to South Africa was in 1948, namely a Lancastrian survey flight from Sydney via Perth Airport (PER), the Cocos Keeling Island International Airport (CCK) and Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) in 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 Heathrow International Airport (LHR).