Sydney, July 14: Just in time for the Paris Summer Olympics, the Australian national carrier has launched new flights to the City of Love right from Down Under.
Seventeen hours – that’s how long you will need to endure. Normally, to get to Paris, those in Australia would have to go through Southeast Asia hubs like Malaysia or Singapore or take the Middle East route via Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Qatar, but that is not the case anymore.
Qantas has just launched new direct flights connecting Perth and Paris, marking the airline’s first services to the French capital in 20 years.
This new route will cut about three hours off the current fastest travel time between the two cities, making it the longest non-stop flight to France from anywhere in the world.
Initially, the flights will operate four times a week during the busy European summer and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, before scaling back to three times a week from mid-August.
This new route will add an extra 75,000 seats annually between Australia and Europe.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson expressed the excitement surrounding this launch: “There is a lot of excitement amongst our customers and crew that Qantas is returning to Paris and that it’s a non-stop flight between Perth and Paris,” she said.
“In recent years we have seen a significant increase in customers wanting to fly direct on long haul routes and avoiding stop overs wherever possible. Our direct flights from Perth to London and Rome have some of the highest customer satisfaction on our international network.”
Western Australian Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Rita Saffioti highlighted the strategic importance of these direct flights:
“We’re really excited to have this flight between Perth and Paris take off, as one of 20 international destinations we now have direct links with,” she said.
“We know that people are more likely to travel to places they’re able to easily access, so this is another big win for tourism in Western Australia.”
The new service will be operated on Qantas’ Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, designed for long-haul travel. Passengers will benefit from large windows, high cabin humidity, and mood lighting to help them feel more refreshed upon arrival.
To celebrate the launch, Qantas has introduced special initiatives like limited edition pyjamas, Neil Perry-curated menus featuring classic French dishes, and a selection of French cinema on the inflight entertainment system.
This new route launch is part of a larger agreement between Qantas and Perth Airport, aimed at enhancing the airline’s western hub and adding 4.4 million additional seats to and from Perth by 2031.
FAST FACTS
Flight numbers: QF33 Perth-Paris, QF34 Paris-Perth
Flight time: 17 hours 20 minutes
Travel distance: 14,264km
Aircraft: Qantas’ Dreamliner with 236 seats across Business, Premium Economy, and Economy cabins.
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