Countdown on for historic first direct flights
Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Public Sector Management; Federal-State Relations
Hon Roger Cook BA GradDipBus MBA MLA
Hon Roger Cook BA GradDipBus MBA MLA
Deputy Premier; Minister for State Development, Jobs and Trade; Tourism; Commerce; Science
Countdown on for historic first direct flights
- Inaugural direct flights between Perth and Rome ready to take off this week
- First ever non-stop service between Australia and Continental Europe
- Qantas-operated seasonal route will run three times per week
- Supported by the McGowan Government, through Tourism WA
The countdown is officially on for the first non-stop flight between Perth and Rome, as the first sell-out flight departs Perth International Airport this week.
A promotional Qantas "Points Plane" will test out the route on Wednesday, June 22 before the official start of services on Saturday, June 25.
To commemorate the launch of the inaugural service, Western Australia's Premier, Mark McGowan, will join Qantas representatives on-board the Qantas QF5 Boeing 787-9 when it leaves Perth on Saturday.
The 16 hour and 25 minute non-stop flight will land at Leonardo da Vinci Airport at 08:45am, where the Premier and Qantas Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce will farewell passengers travelling from Rome to Perth.
The direct flight from Rome will land in Perth on June 26 at 08:35am, with a 15 hour and 45 minute total flight time.
The new seasonal flight will run three times per week until October 6, 2022, and is expected to resume service in 2023.
Over the two-year period, the route is expected to attract more than 3,700 extra visitors to Perth, generating an approximate additional visitor spend of $7.7 million.
The new route is supported by the McGowan Government through Tourism WA, as part of the $75 million Aviation Recovery Fund within the $195 million Reconnect WA package.
The service is the first ever non-stop connection between Australia and Continental Europe and further elevates Perth's position as the Western Gateway to Australia.
In 2019 nearly 150,000 visitors from Continental Europe spent $408 million in WA, including 11,000 visitors from Italy who spent $29 million in the State.
The launch of the direct flight to Rome follows the early resumption of the Perth to London direct service in May, which has been hugely successful.
These two services are the only direct flights from Australia to both the United Kingdom and Continental Europe.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"The countdown is on to this incredible milestone - the direct service between Perth and Rome will create many new opportunities between Western Australia and Continental Europe, including a huge boost for our tourism industry which will further diversify the economy and support jobs, investment and business opportunities.
"Western Australia's strong economy is leading the nation and, as part of the mission, I will be hosting a series of roundtables in Italy and in the United Kingdom, to meet with key partners and businesses to showcase why there is no better place to visit, study, invest and work with than WA."
Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Roger Cook:
"Continental Europe is an important tourism market for Western Australia, and this new route will make it easy for Italians and Europeans to visit our State and explore the fantastic tourism experiences we have to offer, injecting millions into our economy.
"The launch affirms Perth as the Western Gateway to our country and is an important new connection to improve international access to the State.
"The State Government is committed to increasing WA's aviation capacity and securing new routes like this Rome service, and has been proud to support the initiative through the $195 million Reconnect WA package.
"Western Australia is well and truly open for business and open for tourism."