World's largest plane makes incredible comeback as major carrier restores classic route
The world's largest passenger plane is set to make an incredible comeback with Qantas restoring a classic route between Australia and Africa.
Qantas will bring back its popular connection between Perth and Johannesburg in mid-2025.
And, it will be the first time that the airline will operate the world’s largest passenger plane, the Airbus A380, on the route.
This move is part of the airline’s plan to increase capacity and meet growing demand, but it is still pending final approvals.
For now, however, travellers will be happy to know that Qantas will also replace the smaller Boeing 787-9 with the Airbus A380 on the Sydney-Johannesburg route.
Passengers will be able to travel six times a week with more space and comfort.
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5 interesting facts about the Airbus A380:
- The Airbus A380 is the largest passenger airliner in the world, with a maximum takeoff weight of 575 tonnes and the ability to carry up to 853 passengers in an all-economy configuration.
- The A380 has two full-length passenger decks, providing 40 percent more space than its closest competitor, the Boeing 747.
- With a flying range of approximately 9,444 miles (15,200km), the A380 is capable of operating some of the world’s longest non-stop flights, including routes such as Qantas' Dallas-Fort Worth to Sydney.
- It takes a team of 34 people around 15 days to repaint an A380, due to its massive size and surface area.
- The A380 is known for its remarkably quiet cabin, offering one of the smoothest and most comfortable flying experiences even in economy class.
Cam Wallace, Qantas International’s Chief Executive, said that by using the larger aircraft, the airline will significantly increase capacity, providing an extra 130,000 seats annually between Australia and Africa.
With a capacity of 485 passengers across four classes - first, business, premium economy, and economy - the A380 is known for its big and quiet cabin.
It, therefore, offers a smoother and more comfortable flight experience. The introduction of the A380 means Johannesburg will become the fourth city in the Qantas network to welcome this iconic aircraft, alongside London, Singapore, and Los Angeles.
In addition to guaranteeing more seats for passengers, Qantas has also signed a new codeshare agreement with South African airline Airlink.
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This partnership will allow Qantas customers to access more destinations across South Africa, including Cape Town and Durban, with plans to expand the network further in the future.
When eventually introduced in 2025, the non-stop flight between Perth and Johannesburg will take just over 11 hours.
This service will add more travel options for passengers and support business, tourism, and family connections between the two continents.
