Qantas has confirmed the launch of two new ultra-long-haul nonstop routes, both timed at approximately 15 hours. The Australian carrier will begin service to Las Vegas next month, followed by a debut flight to Cape Town in late 2027. These additions expand the airline’s long-haul network significantly, targeting high-yield leisure markets in the United States and South Africa.
Las Vegas Service Begins December 29
The first of these new routes connects Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) to Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). Scheduled to commence on December 29, the flight will operate three times a week on a seasonal basis. The route covers 6,708 nautical miles (12,423 km) on a great circle basis, with a maximum block time of 15 hours and 15 minutes for the return journey to Sydney.
Qantas will deploy its 236-seat Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner for this service. The aircraft configuration includes 42 business class seats arranged in a 1-2-1 layout, 28 premium economy seats with a 38-inch pitch, and 166 economy class seats with a 32-inch pitch. Approximately 18% of the total capacity is allocated to business class. The block time allows for the use of a single aircraft for the round trip.
Market data indicates strong demand for this connection. Booking records for the 12 months leading to July 2026 show that 54,000 passengers traveled locally between Sydney and Las Vegas. Las Vegas was previously the largest unserved US destination from Sydney, with virtually all travelers connecting through Los Angeles or San Francisco. Qantas estimates that the new nonstop service will increase the market size by 30% or more. The airline also anticipates capturing connecting traffic from Melbourne, which recorded 22,000 passengers, Brisbane with 20,000 passengers, and Auckland with 14,000 passengers.
Cape Town Route Launches in 2027
The second new route will connect Sydney to Cape Town International Airport (CPT). This service is scheduled to begin on October 19, 2027, and will run through March 24, 2028, covering the Southern Hemisphere summer season. The flight covers 5,946 nautical miles (11,010 km), which is marginally longer than the distance to Johannesburg. The flight duration is approximately 14 hours and 40 minutes.
Qantas will also use the Boeing 787-9 for the Cape Town service, operating three times weekly. The airline plans to utilize one of four 787-9 aircraft due for delivery in 2028. This route will be the third from Australia to South Africa and the first scheduled service to Cape Town from Australia. The market between Australia and Cape Town handles around 87,000 passengers annually. Despite the shorter distance compared to Johannesburg, average fares to Cape Town are approximately 12% higher, reflecting its status as a premium leisure destination for Australian travelers.
The deployment of these aircraft for the Cape Town route during the summer season frees up capacity for potential European services during the winter months. Qantas currently serves London Heathrow, Paris CDG, and Rome Fiumicino. The airline plans to resume flights to Paris and Rome via Perth in March 2027, while London services continue to operate via Singapore or Perth.
Industry analysis suggests Qantas is targeting higher-yielding European markets to offset high operating costs. Potential destinations include Frankfurt and Athens. Booking data shows that the Sydney to Athens market is slightly larger than Frankfurt, with average one-way fares 16% higher. The airline is evaluating whether to introduce services to these cities via Perth in the future.
Source: Simple Flying
