After making its debut during last year’s northern summer, Qantas’ non-stop Western Australia-Italy service will run until 3 October 2023.
Qantas will operate three flights per week on the route, offering 22,000-plus seats over the next 3.5 months.
The flying kangaroo will utilise its B787 Dreamliner aircraft for the only nonstop flights to mainland Europe.
Qantas International CEO Cameron Wallace said the Perth-Rome route was “one of the most popular across our international network last year and bookings show that it’s shaping to be that way again”.
“We also saw many customers using Rome as a gateway to continental Europe, connecting onwards with our network of partners, with Sicily, Athens and Barcelona being amongst the top destinations last year,” he remarked.
Wallace said the route would also boost WA tourism “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”.
Proving its popularity, Qantas confirmed it will also operate the service in 2024, with next year’s flights on sale in early July.
“One of the trends we’ve seen emerge post-COVID is that preference for direct flights is higher than ever,” Wallace remarked.
“Strong customer demand for our long-haul international routes has given us the confidence to commit to a third season in 2024.”
More than Italy
Rome-bound Qantas passengers can connect to 16 European destinations and 14 destinations within Italy.
Additionally, customers are able to return to Australia from London (on the same ticket) thanks to the carrier’s ‘circle fare’.
Perth’s business and first passengers will receive limited-edition Qantas amenity kits, which feature designs by WA Wongi artist Kevin Wilson.
“From keen travellers to Western Australians with strong family ties to Italy, all will welcome being able to step off at Perth Airport and then set foot in the eternal city,” WA Premier Roger Cook said.
“The resumption of what has proved to be a very popular flight has obvious economic and cultural benefits for our state.
“Linking Perth and Rome with direct flights enables us to deliver on our strategy to diversify our economy and support jobs across a range of sectors, including tourism and hospitality.”
In 2022, Italy was WA’s 11th-largest international visitor market, up from 23rd position in 2019.
Qantas recommenced its Sydney-San Francisco flights last month and its Sydney-New York (via Auckland) service last week. Melbourne-Hong Kong flights resume next week.
The Qantas Group is expected to return to around 100 per cent of its international network pre-COVID capacity by March 2024.
By Mark Harada
Source KarryOn.com