Last year we published a blog examining Qantas’s decision to introduce the A380 on the Sydney-Johannesburg routes. The move surprised many, but our analysis highlight how the A380’s increased capacity was offsetting capacity losses between Australia and South Africa following the withdrawal of the B747-400 from the Qantas fleet and replacement by the smaller B787-9, and the continued absence of South African Airways’s Perth services.
At the time, we remained sceptical that SAA would return to Perth anytime soon, but we’re happy to eat our words. SAA returns to Perth today (29 April 2024) after a four year absence with a 3x weekly service. This reestablishes an important historical link and provides some competition to Qantas. Competition is important since we argued that Qantas’s choice of servicing Johannesburg at lower frequency was enabled by the lack of direct competition.
Qantas’s planned operation has also evolved. Qantas originally planned to introduce the A380 to Johannesburg from 7 July 2024, initially 6x weekly before reducing frequency to 4x weekly from the beginning of August, and increasing frequency back to 6x weekly from October in preparation for the summer season. Due to delays in heavy maintenance and cabin refits, Qantas have adjusted the schedule, delaying the introduction of the A380 to 30 September, with a 5x weekly service replacing the 6x weekly B787-9, before increasing to 6x weekly from the end of October.