Rome’s Fiumicino airport is set to become the gateway to continental Europe with the first direct flight from Australia in the history of civil aviation. Qantas, Australia's leading airline, will launch the unprecedented direct service between Italy and Australia from 23 June 2022. The three weekly Rome-Sydney flights, at 15 hours and 45 minutes and all with a stopover in Perth the westernmost point of the Australian continent, will cut three hours off the regular flight time. Passengers arriving from Rome will be able to choose whether to continue on the same aircraft to Sydney or to start their Australian stay by visiting Perth.
Three classes and 236 seats on board
The Qantas flights will be operated by a Boeing 787/900 Dreamliner, a new generation aircraft configured to offer services dedicated to an extended stay on board. The three-class cabin will have 42 seats in Business Class, 28 in Premium Economy and 166 in Economy for a total of 236 seats.
Connecting flights to European and Italian cities
The strategic decision to serve Rome as the first and only point in continental Europe is the result of a long collaboration between Qantas and Rome’s Fiumicino airport operator Aeroporti di Roma. From the Eternal City Qantas will connect passengers to the main European destinations including Athens, Barcelona, Frankfurt, Nice, Madrid, Paris and to 15 cities in Italy such as Florence, Milan and Venice thanks to agreements with partner airlines operating at the airport.
“Australia is a friendly, safe and attractive tourist destination”
"Once the borders reopened - said Alan Joyce, CEO of Qantas Group - we noticed an immediate and strong demand for new destinations. After the restrictions of recent years now is the ideal time for Qantas to boost its international network and explore new market opportunities. Australia enjoys a global reputation as a friendly, safe and attractive tourist destination, and by flying direct from Rome visitors will be able to experience the Australian Spirit even before they arrive.
Facilitating the growth of passenger and cargo traffic
"Today we celebrate Italy as the first country ever to have a direct flight from Australia to mainland Europe,” said Marco Troncone, CEO of Aeroporti di Roma. “In 2019 some 500,000 passengers flew between Australia and Italy with intermediate stopovers. This important milestone will further facilitate the growth of passenger and cargo traffic between the two countries.”
