QANTAS: Adds 40 flights from Perth to Rome in 2026

On the back of bumper financial results, Qantas is ramping up its European play. It is set to almost double the seats on its popular Perth to Rome service for the 2026 northern summer.

The national carrier announced it will extend the seasonal route by eight weeks and increase frequency from three to four flights a week during peak demand, meaning more than 40 extra flights and close to 10,000 additional seats will be available.

More time in the Eternal City

The 2026 season will stretch from 3 May through to 23 October. That will neatly cover Rome’s balmy late spring, sweltering summer and early autumn.

Peak season, from 27 June to 26 September, will see the route step up to four services per week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday), while shoulder periods will stick with three.

For east-coasters, the schedule is built around convenient domestic connections into Perth, so you can hop off your SYD–PER red-eye and be on your way to Rome with minimal faffing.

Flight Details

Set out below are the dates and frequency changes:

Travel Dates	Frequency	Operating days
3 May – 26 June 2026	3 flights per week	Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
27 June – 26 September 2026	4 flights per week	Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
27 September – 23 October 2026	3 flights per week	Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday

… along with the flight times from Perth to Rome:

Flight	Route	Departure	Arrival	Days of Operation
QF5	Perth → Rome	Perth 19:35 AWST →	Rome 06:00 CEST (+1 day)	Tue, Thu, Sun (shoulder) / Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun (peak)
QF6	Rome → Perth	Rome 11:00 CEST →	Perth 08:45 AWST (+1 day)	Mon, Wed, Fri (shoulder) / Mon, Wed, Sat, Mon (peak)

A bit of history

Qantas launched the nonstop Perth to Rome service back in 2022. It was the first direct link between Australia and continental Europe by any airline. More than 70,000 passengers have flown the route. It has made it easier for Australians to reach the heart of Italy and for Italians to fly straight into Perth.

It is now one of Qantas’ three Perth long-haul services to Europe including London and Paris.

What Qantas says

Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace was understandably chuffed:

“Rome is one of Europe’s most iconic destinations and our nonstop flight is incredibly popular with customers who tell us they love being able to depart Perth in the evening and wake up in Rome.”

Wallace also pointed to the “game-changing” effect of Perth’s long-haul hub, with nearly 300,000 seats next year linking the WA capital directly to London, Paris and Rome.

2PAXfly Takeout

If you want to get to Rome cheaply, there are better options. But if you want to get to Rome quickly, then this is a great option.

For Australians itching to explore Rome without the hassle of Asian or Middle Eastern stopovers, these extra flights are welcome news. The Qantas ‘via Perth’ strategy is all about speed, and this expansion cements Perth’s role as the non-stop European gateway.

With capacity almost doubled, it will be worth keeping an eye on pricing – especially in business class. With competition from Middle Eastern and Asian carriers hotting up, Qantas might have to keep its fares sharp to fill those 10,000 extra seats.