Qantas set to offer flights between Johannesburg and Perth next year

Qantas is set to offer flights between Perth and Johannesburg once Perth Airport has the capacity to handle more passengers and bigger planes.  

MAJOR AIRPORT INVESTMENT PROJECT

Perth Airport has announced a multi-billion dollar investment project for the Western Australian airport.

The investment will see upgrades to existing infrastructure, new terminal facilities and a new parallel runway. 

Perth will be home to a world-class new airport terminal under a new commercial agreement between Qantas and Perth Airport.

Western Australia’s local government says this will boost the state’s tourism industry and unlock significant economic growth.

TERMINAL UPGRADES AT PERTH AIRPORT

Perth Airport will begin with upgrades at terminals three and four, which currently handle Qantas’ domestic and international flights.

This will allow Australia’s national airline to increase capacity at the airport.

Thus, enabling Perth Airport to handle more passengers and more planes.

NEW QANTAS ROUTES

This will also mean Qantas can offer flights from Perth to destinations such as Johannesburg and Auckland in New Zealand.

The proposed new flights between Perth and Auckland might also open up a convenient new route for South Africans wishing to travel to New Zealand. This is if these flights connect conveniently.

These new routes are only likely to start from the middle of next year, though the start of these services is subject to approval from border agency authorities.

SOUTH AFRICAN AIRWAYS

The only airline currently offering flights between Perth and South Africa is South African Airways.

The airline relaunched its scheduled services on this route on 28 April, using an Airbus A340 aircraft.

The long-awaited resumption was well received, with South African communities in both communities pleased to see the restart of direct air services.

With Qantas indicating the resumption of its flights from Perth, there will be some competition for South African Airways on this route.

DIRECT PERTH JOHANNESBURG FLIGHTS

South African Airways resumed services between Johannesburg and Perth last month, after a four-year hiatus.

During this time Qantas said it would launch its services on the route but complications and logistical issues at Perth Airport forced the airline to axe the route.

This meant an absence of direct services on the route for a lengthy period.

PERTH AIRPORT TO HANDLE LARGER AIRCRAFT

In addition, the extended international section at Perth Airport’s terminal three will also be able to accommodate Airbus A350 aircraft.

Executive Traveller reports that Qantas intends to introduce the Airbus A350 to its fleet in 2026. 

Furthermore, these aircraft will be used to operate Qantas’ flagship Perth to London route in the future.