Qantas has launched Airbus A380 flight to Johannesburg, the first time the national carrier has operated the super jumbo to 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 Australia and Africa every year.

The Qantas A380 has capacity for 485 passengers across four cabins, with the introduction of the super jumbo seeing a return of First Class on the route for the first time since 2018. Qantas First features 14 individual suites arranged in an exclusive 1-1-1 configuration and convert into a 212-centimetre bed. The upgauge will also more than double the number of Premium Economy seats available between the cities.

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 (below). 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 any airline across the southern Indian Ocean.

The national carrier also intends to relaunch direct flights from Perth to Johannesburg from mid-2025, subject to meeting border agency requirements.

More African destinations for Qantas customers

The significant increase in capacity comes as Qantas announces a new codeshare partnership with Johannesburg-based carrier Airlink, substantially expanding its 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, including Cape Town, Durban and Hoedspruit. The carrier said it hopes to add additional Airlink destinations in nearby southern African countries over the coming months, pending regulatory approval.

Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said: “We are seeing strong demand for our Johannesburg services and, by upgrading to the Superjumbo, we will nearly double capacity during peak periods, adding over 130,000 seats per year between the continents.

“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.

“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.”