Qantas launches first non-stop direct flight from Australia to Paris

The first “Bonjour!” rang out before we’d even checked in at the airport. Smiling ground crew were playing their part as Qantas went all-in on the French theme for its launch of direct flights from Australia to Paris.

Macarons, mimes and tricolour flags were everywhere, and on Bastille Day too. The timing was perfect.

This is the third non-stop service to Europe from Australia’s west coast capital Perth and it’s just in time for the Olympics — operating four times a week during the games and three times a week after.

A civilised boarding time of 7pm meant we were wheels up and on the way to a sunrise arrival at Charles de Gaulle airport 16 hours and 40 minutes later.

Qantas Chief Executive Vanessa Hudson is flying with us.

“You can have lunch at Cottesloe and breakfast on the Champs-Elysées,” she says with a smile.

Friendly departure and arrival hours are crucial in a new flight’s success, especially when paying a premium for a non-stop service that saves around 15 per cent of the journey time of a stopover route.

Vanessa Hudson explains, “Yes there is a premium because customers say ‘I want to get there in one go.’

”Our flight is a relatively quick one — well ahead of the scheduled time of more than 17 hours. This is the world’s sixth-longest flight!”

It’s been 20 years since Australia and France were connected by flight but this time it’s non-stop.

The Qantas Boeing 787 seats 236 passengers and as a guest of Qantas, we’re in the full business class section. Economy is about 75 per cent full.

Melbourne traveler Jack McMahon paid extra for an exit row economy seat and he’s on his way to visit his partner in Europe.

“I think it’s good,” he says of the non-stop service. “It’s better than doing 25 hours on a plane.”

The service was typical of Qantas long haul: casual but polite, although you often had to hunt down a glass or small bottle of water.

The French-themed menu included coq-au-vin, snapper bouillabaisse and a French cocktail.

Catering on Qantas has taken plenty of — and often justified — bashing in recent years but this flight’s food was top-notch.

It certainly did no harm having the company’s chief executive flying with us.

The festivities continued on arrival at Paris Charles de Gaulle, with croissants and juice upon arrival.

CDG is not a favorite port for seasoned travellers and the baggage delivery was very slow. The city is gearing up for the Olympics so we expected some delays.

This is the final frontier for Qantas before its ambitious Project Sunrise flights, connecting Europe to Australia’s east coast.

They’ll be done on an ultra long-haul Airbus A350 which has experienced delays in certification of its extra large fuel tanks.

Vanessa Hudson expects the first of those planes to arrive mid-2026, bringing with them another level of comfort for the pointy end, and suggesting another level of stamina required for economy travelers, who’ll spend around 20 hours in their seats.