Qantas launches Sydney-Perth-Paris flights

Qantas will begin non-stop flights from Australia to Paris in July 2024, capitalising on the lead-up to the Olympics and long-established demand to the ever-popular European city.

Flights will run from Sydney to Perth to Paris, following the same pattern as Qantas’ seasonal services to Rome, although the Paris service will run all year round.

The first flight will take off on July 12, 2024 and run four times a week to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport – every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday – until the Olympics ends in mid-August 2024, at which point it will be wound back to thrice-weekly (Monday, Wednesday and Friday).

As with the Melbourne-Perth-London and Sydney-Perth-Rome flights, Qantas’ Parisian flights will rely on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner – or should that be Seineliner – with lie-flat business class beds plus premium economy and economy recliners.

The Dreamliner will come a 'Seineliner' on Qantas' direct flights to Perth.

It’s an early feather in the cap of newly-minted Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson, and follows extensive talks with Perth Airport over the city’s role as a ‘western gateway’ for Qantas.

“This route has been on our wish list for a while and we think customers will be as pleased as we are to see it go on sale today,” Hudson remarked.

“Our direct flights to London and Rome have been hugely popular and Paris is the next most-requested destination, so we know the demand for this service will be strong as well.” 

Qantas last flew to Paris in October 2004, and ironically, this was also from Perth – albeit on a Boeing 747 which went via Singapore.

Of course, Paris has also been tipped as a potential destination for Qantas’ non-stop Project Sunrise flights from Sydney and Melbourne.

This will be Qantas' third non-stop European route, following London and Rome.

Qantas’ Sydney-Perth-Paris schedule

QF33 will depart Sydney around 2pm and reach Perth at 5pm; after a leisurely stopover it’ll be wheels-up from Perth at 7.25pm, setting out an almost 17-hour trek to reach Paris at 7am the following day.

QF34 will leave Paris around 10am (perfect timing for a coffee and croissant), touching down in Perth at 8.30am the next morning; after a short break for another breakfast it’ll be back on board for a 10am departure from Perth, and arriving in Sydney at 4pm.

Beyond Paris, Qantas’ partnership with Air France will provide onwards flights to over 70 other destinations.

This will provide an alternative path to Emirates for getting from Australia into Europe, although changing flights at Dubai is generally far smoother than at Charles de Gaulle.

Qantas will also offer a ‘circle fare’ allowing travellers to fly into Paris and return from London or Rome on the one QF ticket.

Eligible travellers, including business class passengers plus mid-tier Qantas Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members, will have access to Qantas’ Perth International Transit Lounge during the Perth stopover.

Qantas has yet to advise which lounge it will use at Charles de Gaulle, however its flights will depart from CDG Terminal 2, where Oneworld partners American Airlines and Cathay Pacific both have lounges (although both are currently closed).

And before you ask: yes, the domestic Sydney-Perth and Perth-Sydney legs of QF33/QF34 will be available to book on their own, which also means Qantas Platinum and Platinum One frequent flyers can begin their Sydney-Perth hop with a visit to the Qantas first class lounge.