‍DALLAS — Qantas (QF) has operated its first-ever Airbus A380 flight between Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) and O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), the latter serving the twin cities of Johannesburg and the main capital of South Africa, Pretoria.

Johannesburg is the Australian flag carrier's sole African destination in its route network. The A380 replaces the Boeing 787-9, which QF has been using to operate this route since 28 March 2021.

Qantas will operate the Airbus A380 across the Indian Ocean six times per week starting on 30 September. The A380 has a capacity for 485 passengers across four cabins. The introduction of the superjumbo will see the return of First Class on the route for the first time since 2018. Qantas First features 14 suites arranged in an exclusive 1-1-1 configuration, which convert into a 212-centimeter bed. 

The Superjumbo also features an upper deck lounge for passengers in First and Business, with booth-style seating for ten people, a self-service bar, and an option to order signature drinks and snacks. The upgrade will also more than double the number of Premium Economy seats available between the two cities.

Adding Capacity to Johannesburg

Operating the Airbus A380 on this popular route, QF will add a large number of additional seats between SYD and JNB. This almost doubles the route's capacity, adding an extra 130,000 seats between Australia and Africa every year. This is indeed good news for travellers needing to travel directly between Africa and Australia.

“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,” said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace. 

Qantas currently has eight Airbus A380s in active service, out of a total 10 of the aircraft type. Its other two A380s are still in storage but are expected to return to service within the next 18 months. In addition to its JNB route, Qantas operates its A380s to Los Angeles (LAX), Singapore (SIN) and London (LON).

Airbus A380 Flights

The launch of the A380 on this route offers significant benefits for passengers. Flight time from SYD to JNB is 14 hours and 40 minutes, while flights from JNB to SYD are 11 hours and 55 minutes. Considering these lengthy flight times, the Airbus A380 offers passengers more space and comfort, thus enhancing the passenger experience on this route. 

Furthermore, this QF flight is the world’s only A380 flight that crosses the southern Indian Ocean. Moreover, when flying a southerly route on a clear day, customers might even be able to view Antarctica from the aircraft.