Qantas says ‘bonjour’ to Paris with new direct flights from Perth starting in July 2024

Qantas says ‘bonjour’ to Paris with the launch of non-stop flights to the French capital from Perth in time for the 2024 Olympics.

Qantas has announced it will fly non-stop to Paris from Perth from July 2024. Picture: Qantas.

Qantas will add Paris to its international network next year just in time for the 2024 Olympics in the French capital and the European summer.

From July 12, 2024, Qantas will operate four flights a week from Perth, dropping to three flights a week from mid-August.

The 17-hour flights will be operated by the airline’s 236-seat Boeing 787-9 aircraft which also fly Qantas’ Perth-London route and the seasonal Perth-Rome services.

It’s the first time Qantas has flown non-stop to Paris after previously offering a Singapore-Paris service in the early 2000s.

CEO Vanessa Hudson said she was thrilled to put the city of love back on to the flying kangaroo’s map.

“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,” Ms Hudson said.

“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.”

Some of the first customers on the Paris flights would be Australian athletes heading to Paris for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Ms Hudson added.

“We’re the only airline offering these direct flights rather than going through a midpoint because the key market we serve is Australia,” she said.

“Our in-flight service is designed with long-haul travel in mind.”

Return economy tickets would initially go on sale for $1899 until November 2.

Qantas will say bonjour to Paris from July 12, 2024. Picture: Qantas.

West Australian Premier Roger Cook said the flights would strengthen the state’s reputation as the “western gateway to Australia”.

“Securing new direct aviation services like this is absolutely vital to drive travellers to Western Australia, inject visitor spend into our economy and create jobs in the tourism and hospitality industries,” said Mr Cook.

Perth Airport also welcomed the announcement which came as discussions continued with Qantas over terminal arrangements for the airline.

In the first instance the Paris flights would operate out of Terminal 3 as the airport endeavoured to consolidate Qantas services to “Airport Central” in Terminal 1.

“These discussions are complex and complicated and while significant progress has been made, it may still take some time to resolve it,” said Perth Airport acting chief executive Kate Holsgrove.

“Consolidation into Airport Central will provide seamless connections between domestic and international services for all our airline partners including Qantas.”

Executive Traveller editor-in-chief David Flynn was hopeful the Paris flights would help thaw the “frosty relationship” between Qantas and Perth Airport, and lead to the launch of other new routes from the West Australian capital.

“(Paris) is sure to be a popular route for Qantas and it’s a definite feather in the cap of newly-minted CEO Vanessa Hudson,” said Mr Flynn.

“As a bonus, the Sydney-Perth and Perth-Sydney legs of these Boeing 787 flights can be booked for domestic travel – and if you’re flying from Sydney and have Qantas Platinum status this also lets you begin your domestic journey at the international Qantas first class lounge.”

In addition, Qantas customers could buy a “circle fare” allowing them to fly into Paris and then return to Australia from London or Rome on the one ticket.