Qantas Returns to Paris After Two Decades with New Direct Service from Perth

Qantas has marked its return to the French market after a hiatus of 20 years, expanding its European network to include three key destinations.

The airline’s new nonstop service linking Perth Airport (PER) and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) will commence with four weekly flights during the Olympic Games, transitioning to three flights per week from mid-August. The route will be serviced by Boeing 787-9 aircraft, offering 236 seats.

“In recent years, we’ve witnessed a growing demand for direct long-haul flights, and our direct routes from Perth to London and Rome have garnered high customer satisfaction,” stated Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson.

Covering a flight time of 17 hours and 20 minutes, the PER-CDG route spans 8,864 miles, ranking as the third-longest route in Qantas’ network, after Perth to London Heathrow (LHR) and Melbourne to Dallas-Fort Worth. This direct link also makes Perth the farthest destination served nonstop from Paris, exceeding Air France’s route to Santiago, Chile, by 1,617 miles.

Previously, Qantas operated a one-stop route via Singapore Changi Airport between Perth and Paris from October 2002 to October 2004. France has been absent from Qantas’ network since then, until this recent reintroduction.

The launch of the Paris route follows European regulatory approval for Qantas’ third center fuel tank in Airbus A350-1000s, integral to the airline’s Project Sunrise initiative. Project Sunrise aims to pioneer ultra-long-range flights, beginning with routes like Sydney to London and New York by mid-2026.

Moreover, in a significant development, Qantas and Perth Airport recently finalized a multi-billion-dollar agreement for infrastructure expansion, including a new terminal and parallel runway. This investment positions Perth Airport as Qantas’ second-largest international hub after Sydney over the next 12 years.

Jason Waters, CEO of Perth Airport, highlighted the milestone, noting the airport’s record-breaking annual passenger numbers surpassing 16 million for the first time in the fiscal year to June 30.

With the introduction of the PER-CDG route, Qantas now offers three nonstop routes connecting Australia and Europe, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing connectivity and passenger experience across its international network.