Qantas Announces A380 On Sydney-Johannesburg Route in 2024

Qantas Airbus A380-800 (VH-OQH) London - Heathrow Airport - Carlos Enamorado - AirTeamImages.com 

Qantas has announced its plans to use the Airbus A380 on the Sydney-Johannesburg route starting in July 2024, marking a significant step in the airline's efforts to increase international travel beyond pre-pandemic levels.

Currently serviced by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the non-stop 14-hour journey between Sydney and Johannesburg will experience a notable change with the deployment of the double-decker superjumbo. This upgrade translates to almost double the available seats in the sky, including substantial expansions in the business class and premium economy cabins. Passengers can also anticipate a fresh and enhanced experience in the upper deck lounge.

The recent schedule enhancements unveiled encompass the following:

- The Sydney-Auckland-New York route will move to a daily service from August 2024, departing from the existing four weekly flights.

- The Sydney-Los Angeles flights will increase from eight to nine per week commencing July 2024. A mix of Boeing 787s and Airbus A380s will service this enhanced frequency.

- The Melbourne-Los Angeles route, where travelers can expect an increased presence of A380 flights starting from July 2024.

- The Sydney-Bali journey will be upgraded from a domestic Boeing 737 to the twin-aisle Airbus A330 daily, effective October 2023.

As of Monday afternoon, these new flight offerings have yet to be reflected on the Qantas website. However, they are anticipated to be rolled out overnight, and customers can look forward to purchasing tickets starting Tuesday.

Combined, Qantas and Jetstar have restored approximately 80% of their pre-Covid international capacity. The airlines are on a trajectory to fully recover and exceed their pre-pandemic levels, with a projected 100% restoration by March 2024 and an even more robust resurgence by July of the same year.

Qantas' fleet tracked via RadarBox.com

Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace expressed enthusiasm: "Hundreds of thousands of extra seats on our network is great news for our customers planning their next overseas trip. We know our customers are looking for great value, and this additional capacity will put more downward pressure on fares."

This ambitious expansion plan will be driven by reintroducing the final two A380s, all of which will be equipped with newly upgraded business class and premium economy seats.