Qantas launches major change in time for the Paris Olympics

Qantas has started direct flights from Australia to Paris just in time for the Olympic Games.

The airline’s first direct flight departed Perth at 7.35pm on Sunday and travelled 8,800 miles (14,264 kilometres) before landing in the French capital at 6.55am on Monday.

The 17.5-hour flight from Perth to Paris is the sixth-longest flight in the world, cutting three hours off the previously fastest time.

The flight from Paris to Perth will be shortened by a further two hours and 45 minutes, reducing the total return flight time by almost six hours compared to before.

Captain Phil Paterson was in the cockpit on the first flight and announced upon takeoff that “rule number one is don’t hit the Eiffel Tower.”

It is the first time in 20 years that Qantas will fly to Paris. Four flights a week will be offered during the European summer and the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson said a “The significant increase in the number of passengers requesting direct, non-stop flights led the airline to expand its offering.

“In recent years we have seen a significant increase in the number of customers wanting to fly direct on long-haul routes and avoid stopovers where possible,” she said.

The 17.5-hour route from Perth to Paris is three hours off the next-fastest option between the cities and is the sixth-longest flight in the world

‘Our direct flights from Perth to London and Rome are among the flights with the highest customer satisfaction on our international network.

‘With these new flights, our customers can depart Perth in the evening and arrive in Paris in time to enjoy brunch with a view of the Eiffel Tower.’

Qantas now has three direct routes between Australia and Europe, following the launch of the Perth-Rome flight in 2022 and the Perth-London flight in 2018.

Western Australia Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti said In 2023, 23,000 French tourists visited the state.

The new direct flight will add an additional 75,000 seats annually between Europe and Perth.

“Not only is this an important link between Western Australia and France, it also provides improved connections to dozens of other European destinations, increasing the tourism potential of the region,” Ms Saffioti said.

‘Perth will become Australia’s gateway to Paris.

‘Reconnecting Western Australia to the rest of the world has been a key focus for us since borders reopened following the pandemic’

Qantas’ new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft will There will be four flights a week between Perth and Paris until mid-August, after which this will be reduced to three.

The aircraft carries 236 passengers in business class, premium economy class and economy class.

Qantas chief executive Vanessa Hudson (centre) said customers were demanding more direct long-haul flights

Neil Perry, creative director of food, beverage and service at Qantas, has created a French menu for passengers flying in Business class.

Dinner consists of a pumpkin and ginger soup with chive crème fraîche, sourdough and Pep Saya butter and a fresh green salad as a starter.

The main course is a coq au vin with pancetta, mushrooms, mashed potatoes and sugar snaps, followed by a rum savarin with chantilly cream and berries to finish.

To mark the occasion, a specially curated selection of French films will be available via the international inflight system throughout the month of July.

Qantas first launched flights from Australia to Europe in 1947 and at the time it took four days and seven stopovers to get from Australia to Europe. From Sydney to London.

The airline wants to offer direct flights to Europe from the east coast again with ‘Project Sunrise’. With this, the company hopes to be able to offer direct flights to cities other than Perth.

Project Sunrise has been delayed by the delivery and certification of aircraft, but it is expected that this target will be achieved within two years.