Perth's first-ever direct connection with Continental Europe takes off

• First direct flight between Perth and Rome takes off this evening
• New Qantas service strengthens Perth's position as the Western Gateway
• Supported by the McGowan Government through Tourism WA

Western Australia will welcome its first passengers from the new non-stop flight between Perth and Rome tomorrow when the sell-out flight takes off from Perth.

To celebrate the launch of the inaugural service, Premier Mark McGowan will join Qantas representatives on the Qantas QF5 Boeing 787-9 which lands at Rome's Leonardo da Vinci Airport tomorrow.

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.

Qantas is looking at other opportunities to utilise the newly established direct service, including working with WA producers to explore transporting local produce and products, such as crayfish, cut flowers and WA minerals, to Rome through the new route.  

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 new route takes to the skies after two new services were announced earlier this week, with direct flights from Perth to Johannesburg and Perth to Jakarta starting later this year.

Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:

"I am pleased to join Qantas Group Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce and other representatives on the inaugural Perth to Rome flight, which represents an incredible milestone for Western Australia.

"Today's flight launch comes as two new routes were also announced this week - to Johannesburg and Jakarta - as we continue to improve connections with WA and make it even easier for visitors to travel to our beautiful State.

"I will be continuing to explore opportunities to strengthen the WA economy as I meet with a number of key partners and businesses in Italy over the coming days, and promote WA as an incredible place to visit, study, invest and work in."

Comments attributed to Tourism Minister Roger Cook:

"This new service marks a historic moment for WA, with our links to Continental Europe getting a huge boost this weekend as the first non-stop flight takes off.

 "The new service brings with it a whole host of benefits to the WA tourism and hospitality industries, supporting local businesses and helping to reconnect operators with visitors from across Europe.

"The State Government proudly supported the start-up of this new route, through Tourism WA, as we continue to make strides in growing Perth's reputation as the Western Gateway."