Qantas confirms Rome. And from July 2024, you will also be able to fly to Australia nonstop from Paris

The ultimate goal, for Australian airline Qantas, always remains. the implementation of Project Sunrise, namely the Non-stop connection between Sydney and Melbourne and the east coast of the U.S. (New York) and Europe (London included).

Slipped due to the Covid pandemic, the start of what will be longest non-stop flights ever (around 20 hours) is now planned for late 2025, with a fleet of Specially dedicated Airbus A350s, including in cabin fittings.

But, in the meantime, the Australian port of call for nonstop flights from Europe remains Australia's westernmost city-Perth. From there, Qantas flies nonstop with its Boeing 787-9s to London (from 2018) and Rome (from 2022), with The connection to the Eternal City that has been confirmed, three times a week, also for the summer of 2024 (Tickets have been on sale since last July).

In the last two summer seasons, Rome had the privilege of being the only destination served by Qantas in continental Europe, but from July 12, 2024, it will be joined by Paris, which will be served four times a week from Perth until mid-August, coinciding with the Olympic Games to be held in the French capital. From mid-August onward, the frequency will drop to three weekly flights operated again with 236-seat Boeing 787-9s (42 in Business Class, 28 in Premium Economy and 166 in Economy).

As per connection to and from Rome, the Boeing 787 (QF33) will begin its journey in Sydney, stop in Perth to refuel and load passengers, and from there make the very long hop to the Ville Lumiere, with a total flight time (including stopover) of 25 hours (including 17 hours and 20 minutes non-stop between Perth and Sydney). On the return (QF34), the total flight time between Paris and Sydney will be 22 hours and 10 minutes (including 16 hours and 35 minutes non-stop between Paris and Perth).

"Our routes to London and Rome have always been extremely popular, ever since their inception, and Paris is the third-largest European destination in terms of demand from Australia, so it will be a success," explained Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson, pointing out that "the flight we announced today (Oct. 29, ed.) will add 75 thousand seats a year between Australia and Europe."

Which should 'ease' the pressure on the connection between Rome and Perth (always crammed with Australians), opening up more possibilities for Italian travelers to reach Australia that way.

• New Routes