- New Qantas direct flights between Perth and Paris launch today
- Service to operate four times weekly ahead of Paris Olympics, then three times per week afterward
- New flight to boost tourism from Continental Europe to Western Australia
- Supported by the Cook Government in partnership with Perth Airport
The first non-stop flight between Paris and Perth will take off tonight, bringing a third direct air connection from Europe to Western Australia and delivering a major boost to the local economy.
Supported by the Cook Government, the near 17-hour flight will operate four days per week throughout the European summer and the Paris Olympics on Qantas' Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. Services will continue year-round, three times per week from mid-August 2024.
The first flight from Perth to Paris takes off tonight, with the first return flight to land on Sunday afternoon.
The flight will be the second non-stop connection between Continental Europe and Perth secured by the WA Labor Government alongside Qantas' services to Rome, and builds on the existing direct link with London.
The new route elevates WA's status as the Western Gateway to Australia, with Perth still the only city in Australia providing non-stop aviation connections with Continental Europe and the United Kingdom.
The new non-stop link will add more than 75,000 additional seats between Europe and Perth each year - including around 37,500 inbound passengers to WA per year - and will cut more than three hours off the current fastest travel time between Paris and Perth.
The route will also provide seamless connections with more than 70 other destinations, including Athens, Barcelona and Frankfurt, boosting tourism opportunities across the continent.
In 2023, WA welcomed 23,000 visitors from France and an additional 95,000 travellers arrived from the rest of mainland Europe, with a combined total expenditure of $386 million that year.
The WA Labor Government has now secured or re-launched direct flights from 20 international destinations since borders re-opened, through the $75 million Aviation Recovery Fund, including the recently announced Guangzhou and Johannesburg routes.
As stated by Premier Roger Cook:
"Securing more direct flights is a key part of our plan to grow our tourism industry, diversify our economy and create local jobs.
"The new Perth to Paris route will bring tens of thousands of additional visitors to WA each year, delivering a major boost for local businesses and our economy.
"A third direct Europe flight cements our place as the Western Gateway to Australia, putting Perth on the map for visitors from across the continent."
As stated by Tourism Minister Rita Saffioti:
"It's been a massive couple of years for our aviation industry, and it's so exciting to be launching yet another direct flight into WA, this time from Paris and just in time for the 2024 Olympic Games.
"Not only is this an important link between WA and France, it will also provide better connections for dozens of other European destinations, boosting tourism opportunities across the region.
"Reconnecting WA with the rest of the world has been a major focus for us since borders reopened post-pandemic, and with 20 direct international links now secured or relaunched, it's safe to say our State is well and truly cementing itself as a key destination for travel and business."
