Australians craving a summery Italian holiday can once again enjoy non-stop flights from Perth to the Eternal City, with Qantas resuming its connection to Rome for the second year. And it won’t be the last time either, with 2024 flights greenlit to return.
Bouncing off thrice weekly on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner until October 3, the 16-hour seasonal trek from Perth to Fiumicino ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ Airport unlocks 16 destinations across Europe, including Nice and Madrid, as well as 14 domestically in Italy.
Onboard travellers will find the airline’s familiar David Caon-designed business class, as well as a limited edition amenity kit featuring the artwork of West Australian Wongi artist Kevin Wilson.
Those seeking a taste of ‘La Dolce Vita’ can make use of the following schedule:
- QF5 sees wheels up from Perth at 10.50pm every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, touching down in Rome at 8.50am the following day.
- Following a brief stop, QF6 bids arrivederci to Rome at 10.50am on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, before touching down in Perth at 8.33am.
Qantas’ 787-9 is equipped with the David Coan-designed Business Suite.
Passengers are also able to take advantage of a “circle fare” allowing them to fly into Rome and return to Australia from London on the one Qantas ticket.
Adding to the convenience, the city also makes a perfect jump-off to popular European destinations such as Athens, Frankfurt, Milan, and Nice with Qantas’ partner airlines.
In Rome, Frequent Flyers and business passengers can access the Terminal 3 lounge of Oneworld partner British Airways, which opened in 2018 and combines British and European design, for what the airline describes as “a luxurious and contemporary look and feel.”
The British Airways Lounge at Rome’s T3 Terminal.
Qantas International CEO Cameron Wallace says last year’s inaugural service, which ended a near-20 year absence of the Red Roo from the city, was one of its “most popular routes”. Flights for 2024 go on sale in early July.
“The route is fantastic for tourism operators across Western Australia, not just because of the influx of visitors we’ve seen from Italy, but also because it promotes Perth as a stopover for Australians travelling to Europe from the east coast,” Wallace adds.
Perth acts as Qantas’ Australian gateway for European flights, as current aircraft lack the range to make direct flights from the east coast capitals. However, with Project Sunrise confirmed to take wing in 2025, its days as the primary hub could be numbered.
Though Sunrise is a while off, the airline recently lifted the lid on what passengers can expect onboard, from first and business class through to premium economy.
In addition to eventual non-stop Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York, outgoing Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has also hinted at the possibility of direct flights to Paris and Frankfurt, giving travellers even greater choice.