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 16-hour trek departs from Sydney, makes a pitstop in Perth, and continues on to Fiumicino ‘Leonardo da Vinci’ Airport.
QF5 sees wheels up from Sydney at 5.55pm and Perth at 10.20pm, touching down in Rome at 8.45am the following day
QF6 departs Rome at 10.50am, arriving into Perth at 8.35am and Sydney at 4.05pm
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,” Mr 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.
Source: Executive Traveller