Qantas has launched its first Airbus A380 service to Johannesburg, marking the first time the airline has operated its Superjumbo aircraft on a route to Africa. The A380 will fly up to six-times per week, bringing a near-doubling of capacity between Australia and South Africa with an additional 130,000 seats available each year.
The Qantas A380 is configured to carry 485 passengers across four cabins and its introduction marks the return of First Class to the route for the first time since 2018. Qantas First Class includes 14 individual suites in an exclusive 1-1-1 layout, each of which converts into a 212-centimetre bed. The up-gauge will also more than double the number of premium-economy seats available between Australia and Johannesburg, catering to growing demand on the route.
The aircraft also features an upper deck lounge for first- and business-class passengers, offering booth-style seating for up to ten people, a self-service bar and the option to order signature drinks and snacks, enhancing the in-flight experience for premium passengers.
Qantas' history with South Africa dates back to 1948, when it first landed in the country with a Lancastrian survey flight from Sydney via Perth, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands and Mauritius to Johannesburg. The first regular passenger services on the route began in 1952, using a Lockheed Constellation L-749A. Dubbed the Wallaby Route, in reference to the Kangaroo Route from Australia to London, this service took 66 hours to complete. In a further boost to its South African operations, Qantas is planning to relaunch direct flights from Perth to Johannesburg in mid-2025, pending regulatory approval.
In tandem with the capacity increase, Qantas has announced a new codeshare partnership with Johannesburg-based carrier Airlink. This agreement will expand Qantas' reach within South Africa, providing seamless connectivity between its Johannesburg flights and nine domestic destinations, including Cape Town, Durban and Hoedspruit. Qantas aims to extend this codeshare partnership to additional destinations in neighbouring southern African countries, subject to regulatory approval in the coming months.
