Our first direct taste of ‘la dolce vita’ won’t be the last, with the seasonal route firing up again next year.
Australian travellers can start planning their Italian adventures for the 2023 northern summer, with Qantas confirming a second season of its new service between Sydney and Rome, via Perth, just days after the maiden flight’s departure.
The Red Roo’s return to continental Europe and first direct link from Australia took to the skies for the first time this past weekend, with services departing every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday until October 6, flying aboard its staple Boeing 787-9 aircraft equipped with David Caon’s stylish Business Suite.
Qantas’ new Italian route marks an end to an almost 20 year absence from Rome, when its Boeing 747 served the Eternal City until 2003 after a stopover in Bangkok.
Shaving three hours off the previous fastest travel time to Rome, the flight departs from Sydney, makes a pitstop in Perth, and then continues its 16-hour trek to Fiumicino ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ Airport.
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.”
Speaking in Perth, Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce said the airline has seen a significant appetite for non-stop flights, with the west coast capital playing an increased role in its international expansion, including newly-announced services to Johannesburg and Jakarta.
“Australians are definitely on the move. Our customers are heading overseas to reunite with family and friends, to reconnect business links, and to rediscover the world,” Joyce added.
“Our flights from Perth to London are heavily booked, we’ve fast-tracked the return of our A380 fleet which will free up our 787s to operate new routes including Melbourne to Dallas, and we’re deploying A330’s to other new destinations including India and South Korea later this year.”
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 reignited and confirmed to take wing in 2025, its days as the primary hub could be numbered.
In addition to non-stop Sydney and Melbourne to London and New York, Joyce has also hinted at the possibility of direct flights to Paris and Frankfurt, giving travellers even greater choice.
01 Jul 2021
Total posts 25
back in 2023 meaning the flight will go year round in 2023?
Qantas – Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Nov 2017
Total posts 26
No, back on from 16 June 2023.
08 May 2020
Total posts 75
It would never interest me unless I have some Business in Italy or UK where ever qantas may go with it. A midway stop being it in Singapore or Middle east allows a direct destination selection. I can do in 23hours Melb to Zurich (one stop)and If I compare it with the crazy Melbourne to Perth 3.5 Hours plus pre departure time of 2 hrs plus 2 hours in Perth (min.) 17 hours to Rome 3 hours change over + catching a flight to say Zurich 1 hour flight. the Qantas option sounds complicated and non attractive
05 Oct 2017
Total posts 530
Yeah I agree, these two non-stop flights from Australia to Europe (London Heathrow and Rome), while exciting, aren’t of interest to me unless I had some particular reason to go to the UK or Italy only.
It wouldn’t make sense to fly to London or Rome direct, only to transit to another destination within Europe. In that case, you might as well change planes in Asia or the Middle East. I usually fly into Zurich as well, so for me it’s generally been THAI from Sydney via Bangkok to Zurich, or Singapore Airlines via Singapore. Both THAI and Singapore Airlines offer numerous European destinations. For even more choices, Emirates and Etihad also fly to such secondary cities as Athens, Geneva, Lisbon, Hamburg, Manchester, Glasgow, Dublin and several others that most Asian carriers don’t serve.
Qantas – Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Dec 2016
Total posts 43
hi, i am looking to fly on the Sydney – Perth Leg of this route, and wondered if it goes from the Sydney international terminal?
01 Dec 2012
Total posts 31
Yes, QF 5/6 arrive and depart from Sydney International. In Perth they come and go from the international section of Qantas Terminal 3. That makes it quick and easy to exit landside. Best to take your passport for ID.
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