Qantas has announced that it will commence non-stop flights between Perth and Johannesburg in South Africa. The new flights will operate three times a week, commencing in November 2022.
Under the announced schedule, it will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. QF65 will depart Perth at 3 pm, arriving in Johannesburg at 8.15 pm. The return journey sets off from Johannesburg at 10 pm, arriving back in Perth at 1.55 pm the following day.
The schedule makes for some lengthy flights. The outbound Perth to Johannesburg flight is scheduled to be in the air for 11 hours and 15 minutes. It’s a bit quicker getting back, with the return journey taking 9 hours and 55 minutes.
Having said that, this is quicker than the alternatives on offer. The flights will cut more than six hours from the fastest current travel time. At present, customers heading to Johannesburg from Perth can fly on Qantas via Sydney, or via the Middle East. Travellers choosing carriers other than Qantas, have to make connections somewhere, such as in Singapore.
Qantas will be using the Airbus A330 aircraft on this route. These are likely to be the international configured A330-200 aircraft, sporting 26 Business Seats and 204 Economy seats.
Previously, South African Airways (SAA) operated flights between Perth and Johannesburg. SAA suspended these flights in 2020 as the pandemic set in, and given the state of the airline, they are unlikely to be reinstating the flights anytime soon. maps
Qantas’ existing four flights per week from Sydney to Johannesburg on its Boeing 787 aircraft have had strong bookings since they recommenced in January this year and will increase to daily from 30 October.
Qantas also announced new services between Perth and Jakarta. Operated by 737-800 aircraft, these flights will initially operate 3 days a week.