Joburg travellers, this one’s big. Qantas has launched a brand-new direct service between Johannesburg and Perth, finally providing South Africans with the fastest possible link to Western Australia, and reducing the journey to 9 hours and 55 minutes. The route launched on December 7 and now operates three times a week, on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
A quicker, smoother hop from Joburg to Australia
The new route is operated on a Qantas A330, fitted with 27 lie-flat Business Class suites (all with direct aisle access) and 224 Economy seats. And while the shorter flight time is a win on its own, the real perk is what happens after landing: Joburgers now have easier connections to Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and the rest of Qantas’ domestic network.
It’s a significant launch, considering that Western Australia is home to nearly 45,000 South African-born residents, one of the state’s largest migrant communities. So whether you’re flying out to reunite with your Perth people or squeezing in a long-overdue holiday, this new link makes the trip that much simpler.
And yes — it’s now easier to get to New Zealand too.
As part of this rollout, Qantas has also launched a Perth–Auckland route, which means Joburg travellers can now reach New Zealand with just one stop: no exhausting multi-leg missions, no awkward overnight layovers, just a cleaner, smoother journey.
Strong demand right from the first flight
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace says the response has been overwhelmingly positive:
“Today marks an important milestone as our inaugural direct service from Johannesburg to Perth takes to the skies, strengthening connectivity between South Africa and Western Australia.”
The inaugural flight left almost full, with strong booking momentum carrying into the new year, which is not surprising, given that the peak holiday season is underway.
More seats, more flexibility, more places to go
With this new route in place, Qantas now offers up to 292,000 seats annually between Australia and South Africa, including its already popular Johannesburg–Sydney service.
There’s good news for inbound tourism too: the airline’s new codeshare with Airlink opens up easy access for Australian travellers to 45 destinations across Africa, from Namibia and Zambia to Madagascar and St Helena.
What this means for Joburg travellers
For Joburg travellers, the perks are genuinely game-changing: this is now the quickest Johannesburg–Australia flight on the market, giving you direct, no-stop access to Perth and effortless onward connections to major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
It also facilitates easy one-stop travel to New Zealand, making long-haul family visits or holiday plans far simpler. And with more flights on the schedule, travellers get greater flexibility during peak travel months, when seats are usually snapped up fast.
For South Africans with friends and family spread across Australia and New Zealand, or those eager for a new adventure, the journey has just become significantly easier.
RECOMMENDED:
🛏️ Where to stay in Johannesburg
🏨 The best hotels in Johannesburg
🍽 The best restaurants in Johannesburg
🍺 The best pubs and bars in Johannesburg
Follow Time Out Johannesburg on Facebook, TikTok and Instagram!