(PERTH) Qantas restarted a nonstop link between Perth and Johannesburg on December 7, 2025, ending a long gap for travellers who had been forced onto connections through the east coast or the Middle East. The inaugural flight, QF65, left Perth that afternoon, and the airline said the cabin was close to full after it announced the return of the route in May.
For many Australians with family ties to South Africa, and for South Africans living in Australia, the direct flight cuts out a day of travel and one or two transit visa worries. It also brings extra border and biosecurity staff back into sharp focus as Perth Airport handles more long‑haul arrivals. State officials expect the new schedule to lift tourism and trade quickly.
Service pattern, aircraft and capacity
Qantas will fly the Perth–Johannesburg service three times weekly — on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays — using an Airbus A330‑200.
- Business Class: 27 seats in a 1-2-1 layout that converts into a lie‑flat bed with direct aisle access for every passenger.
- Economy: 224 seats.
- Flight time: about 11 hours 15 minutes, with departures from Perth around 13:30 and arrivals timed for evening connections in South Africa.
- Qantas said the extra capacity adds over 150,000 seats annually through Perth.
South African Airways also flies the route, so travellers will see more choice and, at times, lower fares, airline analysts said. Qantas warned that times can change with seasons and demand and that tickets went on sale after the May announcement.
Quick reference: Perth–Johannesburg service
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 3x weekly (Tue, Fri, Sun) |
| Aircraft | Airbus A330‑200 |
| Business seats | 27 (1‑2‑1, lie‑flat) |
| Economy seats | 224 |
| Flight time | ~11 hr 15 min |
| Departure (Perth) | ~13:30 |
| Annual additional capacity | >150,000 seats |
Border, biosecurity and staffing links to the restart
The restart is tied to federal funding for the Australian Border Force and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, which paid for extra staffing, equipment and biosecurity facilities at Perth Airport so it can process more international flights.
Those upgrades matter because every new long‑haul arrival brings passport checks, baggage screening and quarantine processes that can slow an airport if resourcing lags behind demand. Qantas had previously suspended the Perth–Johannesburg route, citing operational challenges in Perth, and said the improved ground handling now makes the service workable.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, airlines are increasingly linking route planning to border processing capacity, not just aircraft range, because queues can damage a route’s reputation fast — especially for families flying during school holidays.
Qantas comments and strategic aims
Cam Wallace, Qantas International CEO, said the first departure showed the route’s importance:
“Today marks a significant milestone for Perth as our direct service to Johannesburg takes off. The response from customers since we announced these routes in May has been terrific. Today’s inaugural flight to Johannesburg is almost full and we’re seeing positive forward bookings, so we know there is strong appetite for direct travel between the West and South Africa.”
For Qantas, the timing is also about keeping Perth as a long‑haul gateway as rival hubs in Asia add flights. The airline is betting that a steady schedule, even at three flights a week, will attract business travellers and visiting friends and relatives traffic after years when many had to backtrack via Sydney.
Government perspective and economic impact
Australian Tourism Minister Don Farrell linked the return flight to jobs and exports in Western Australia:
“More international flights in and out of Perth means more choice for Australian travellers, more customers for our local world class tourism operators and more opportunities for Aussie exporters. These new flights will bring tourists to Perth, create jobs and help grow our economy.”
The government funding behind the airport upgrades also has a practical immigration angle: when border agencies lack staff, airlines can face knock‑on delays, missed connections and angry passengers. By bolstering inspection lanes and agriculture checks, Canberra is signalling that Perth can handle bigger peaks without compromising security, health rules or the smooth flow of visitors from Africa, Europe, and the Gulf.
Connections, market and traveller concerns
Qantas said passengers can connect onward to Cape Town and other African cities through its partnership with Airlink, a deal intended to make Johannesburg a simple one‑stop hub for Australians bound for the region.
- The carrier already flies an A380 between Sydney and Johannesburg; the Perth link gives another option for travellers from Western Australia and, via domestic connections, people in other states.
- The market includes sizeable South African expat communities in Australia and New Zealand who often travel for weddings, funerals and long family visits where baggage allowances and direct routings matter.
- Immigration advisers say such trips can be stressful when people hold temporary visas and fear missing work while stuck in transit — even when they follow visa and entry rules.
For inbound travellers, the extra flights mean more arrivals to clear Australian entry checks in Perth rather than in Sydney or Melbourne. Border Force officers will still apply the same rules on visas, arrival cards and identity checks, but the point of entry can change a traveller’s timing and the airport where baggage is examined.
Important: Officials advise passengers to check the latest entry requirements before flying, including conditions on working holiday makers, students and other temporary visa holders, on the Home Affairs site at Entering and leaving Australia.
Airlines can refuse boarding if documents do not match the traveller’s status, and rushed last‑minute ticket changes can leave people stranded mid‑journey. That risk is higher on connections where a missed stamp or name error can snowball.
Other simultaneous long‑haul moves and future expansion
The Johannesburg flight was not the only long‑haul move on December 7. Qantas also launched a direct Perth–Auckland service, QF111, with the first inbound flight arriving that day and the first outbound leaving on December 8.
- Service runs Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, on an A330 with the same 27 Business and 224 Economy seats.
- Flight time about 6 hours 45 minutes.
- Qantas has marketed the service as a bridge to North America, because travellers can connect through Auckland to New York on partner airlines.
Qantas also announced more expansion:
- Gold Coast–Auckland flights starting June 16, 2026, three times a week on a Boeing 737.
- A flagged Sydney–Apia via Auckland service.
The airline stressed schedules remain subject to change and told travellers to check Qantas for real‑time status — especially during holiday periods when weather and aircraft swaps can trigger disruptions.
Travel disruptions can carry higher stakes for migrants and international students: a missed work shift may breach employer rules, and a missed class can breach course attendance policies tied to visas. Travel agents recommend passengers keep proof of onward travel and contact details for consulates in Perth and Johannesburg in case a passport is lost.
On the ground at Perth Airport
At Perth Airport on Sunday, the relaunch played out as a mix of celebration and routine document checks, with travellers lining up for boarding passes while airline staff reminded them to keep passports and visas handy.
Qantas did not name passengers on QF65, but pointed to strong forward bookings as evidence of pent‑up demand on both sides of the Indian Ocean. Aviation watchers said competition from South African Airways could keep pressure on service standards, because customers who face long immigration queues or misrouted bags will switch quickly.
Still, the return of a direct Perth–Johannesburg link gives Western Australia a faster bridge to Africa at a time when governments are spending more to keep borders safe and airports moving each day.
Qantas restarted a nonstop Perth–Johannesburg route on December 7, 2025, operating three times weekly on an A330‑200. The service provides 27 business and 224 economy seats with about 11 hours 15 minutes flight time and adds over 150,000 annual seats via Perth. Federal funding upgraded border and biosecurity capacity to support more long‑haul arrivals. Qantas aims to strengthen Perth as a long‑haul gateway, while partnerships and competitor routes expand traveler choice.
