From October next year, Australia’s Qantas airline will operate three direct flights a week between Sydney and Cape Town until March, 2028, offering an additional 30 000 seats between Australia and South Africa.

Cape Town Air Access, powered by the city’s tourism, trade and investment promotion agency Wesgro, says the route unlocks Australia, one of Cape Town's largest unserved markets, and comes ahead of the upcoming Cricket World Cup in South Africa and the Rugby World Cup in Australia.

The announcement also means that Cape Town International is now, finally, connected to all seven continents.

In 2025, two-way passenger traffic between Cape Town and Australia reached a record 80 000 passengers – a recovery to 130% of pre-Covid levels.

Across Australia and New Zealand combined, two-way traffic reached a record 98 000 passengers.

“Connecting our region to every corner of the globe has long been our ambition, and today we take a major step towards that vision,” says Wesgro CEO and Cape Town Air Access official spokesperson Wrenelle Stander.

“A direct link to Australia opens a new chapter for our tourism, trade and investment relationships across Oceania, while bringing people closer together.”

“Cape Town is one of the world’s great cities and Australia’s appetite to visit has never been stronger,” notes Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace.

“Our new direct flights from Sydney to Cape Town will add almost 30 000 seats between South Africa and Australia, bringing more visitors directly into the region and supporting the Western Cape’s tourism economy.

“At the same time, South Africans will have a seamless new way to travel to Australia, whether that’s to visit family and friends, explore the country or connect onwards through our domestic network.”

The new service will be operated on Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.

The route comes 75 years after Qantas operated its first scheduled passenger service to South Africa in 1952.

“Improved air access is a key driver of economic growth in the Western Cape,” adds Western Cape Provincial Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Dr Ivan Meyer.

“A direct link to Sydney will open doors for our exporters, attract investment and strengthen the province’s ties with Australia and New Zealand."

The Qantas announcement builds on notable growth at Cape Town International Airport.

The international terminal has recorded passenger growth of 8% year-on-year, between January and September, with growth of 20% in September alone.