Qantas has taken off for Paris this evening launching new flights connecting Australia and France for the first time.
The new direct flights between Perth and Paris marks the return of the Flying Kangaroo operating services to the City of Light for the first time in 20 years.
The route will cut around three hours off the current fastest travel time between the two cities and is the longest non-stop flight to France from anywhere in the world.
Flights will initially operate four times per week over the busy European summer and Olympic and Paralympics before moving to three services per week from mid-August. The new route will add an additional 75,000 seats between Australia and Europe each year.
Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson said the national carrier's return to Paris followed on from the success of its non-stop services into Europe.
"There is a lot of excitement amongst our customers and crew that Qantas is returning to Paris and that it's a non-stop flight between Perth and Paris," Ms Hudson said.
"In recent years we have seen a significant increase in customers wanting to fly direct on long haul routes and avoiding stop overs wherever possible. Our direct flights from Perth to London and Rome have some of 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 overlooking the Eiffel Tower."
Western Australian Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism Rita Saffioti said direct flights formed a major part of the WA Government's overarching tourism strategy.
"We're really excited to have this flight between Perth and Paris take off, as one of 20 international destinations we now have direct links with.
"We know that people are more likely to travel to places they're able to easily access, so this is another big win for tourism in Western Australia."
"With seamless connections from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other major cities, Perth will be the gateway to Paris for Australia. For French tourists coming to explore the natural wonders around of Australia, Qantas has connections to more than 60 destinations across the country.
The new service will be operated on the airline's Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner which has been specially designed for long-haul travel, with all passengers benefitting from large windows, high cabin
humidity and relaxing mood lighting to help them feel more refreshed when they land.
To mark the start of the direct Paris flights, Qantas has launched a number of customer initiatives including limited edition Martin Grant-designed pyjamas with matching amenity kits and Neil Perry-curated menus
for the Business cabin featuring classic French dishes such as Bouillabaisse of snapper and Skull Island prawns and a French 75 cocktail.
A special selection of movies celebrating French cinema featuring popular films set in Paris such as Amélie and Midnight in Paris will be available across the international inflight system throughout July.
The route launch follows the recent announcement of a landmark agreement between Qantas and Perth Airport that will help unlock the airline's western hub, which along with Group's fleet renewal program, will see the Group add 4.4 million additional seats to and from Perth by 2031.
FAST FACTS
Flight numbers: QF33 Perth-Paris, QF34 Paris-Perth
Flight time: 17 hours 20 minutes
Travel distance: 14,264km
Aircraft: Qantas' Dreamliner carries 236 passengers across Business, Premium Economy and Economy cabins in a layout that has been designed to maximise comfort for the longer distances.
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