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Nonstop travel between Australia and France is set for a shake-up as Qantas confirms it will suspend its Perth–Paris route, prompting itinerary changes for thousands of travellers planning European trips.
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What Is Happening to the Perth–Paris Route
The Perth–Paris service was launched as Qantas’s flagship link between Australia and France, offering a nonstop connection between Western Australia’s capital and Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. Publicly available information now indicates that this route will be suspended, ending the only direct air link between the two countries.
The flight, operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, had been positioned as a key part of Qantas’s broader Europe strategy via Perth, complementing its long-running Perth–London services. The suspension means passengers will once again rely on one-stop connections through hubs such as Singapore, Doha, Dubai or other European gateways to reach France.
Reports indicate that the decision forms part of a wider reshaping of Qantas’s international network as the airline reallocates long-haul aircraft to higher-demand routes and prepares for future ultra-long-range services under its so-called “Project Sunrise” initiative.
The change is significant for Western Australian travellers and for France-bound passengers across the country who had been using Perth as a one-stop springboard to Europe from cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane.
Timeline: When the Nonstop Flights Will Stop
Qantas has been adjusting its international schedule on a seasonal basis, and industry timetables show the Perth–Paris suspension taking effect around the end of the northern summer schedule. While exact dates can vary by season, forward schedules indicate that nonstop services will cease around late October, after the European peak travel period.
Travellers holding bookings beyond that date are expected to be reaccommodated on alternative routings, typically via another Qantas gateway or on partner airlines. In practice, that is likely to mean rebooking via Singapore, London, or another major hub, depending on the original ticket and fare conditions.
Because airline schedules are filed months in advance but can still change, passengers planning trips to France around the cutover period should monitor their bookings closely and review any schedule-change notifications from Qantas or their travel agent.
Those yet to book travel for late 2026 and into 2027 will see the nonstop Perth–Paris option disappear from Qantas’s reservations systems, replaced by one-stop itineraries via other cities.
How This Affects Australian Travellers Heading to France
The most immediate impact is on journey time and convenience. The nonstop Perth–Paris flight cut hours off total travel time for many Australians, especially those connecting from the eastern states on coordinated domestic services. With its suspension, most passengers will revert to at least one stop between Australia and France.
For travellers starting in Perth, the change removes a direct European gateway that had been marketed as a key advantage for Western Australia, both for tourism and business links with France. Passengers will now likely connect through Singapore, the Middle East, or other Asian hubs, or fly via London and then continue to continental Europe.
For passengers from cities such as Sydney and Melbourne, the loss of the Perth–Paris option reduces the number of viable one-stop itineraries to France on Qantas’s own metal. Many will instead connect via Singapore or London on Qantas, or through partner hubs on other carriers, which may shift traffic toward alliance and codeshare partners.
There may also be implications for fares. The nonstop Perth–Paris route had added more than 75,000 seats annually between Australia and Europe, which contributed incremental capacity on one of the world’s most in-demand long-haul markets. With those seats removed, prices on remaining routes could fluctuate, particularly during peak Australian and European holiday periods.
Alternatives and New Routing Options Between Australia and France
Despite the suspension of the nonstop service, Australians will retain multiple pathways to France. Qantas continues to operate long-haul flights from Australia to Singapore and London, and maintains partnerships with European carriers such as Air France and KLM, as well as Middle Eastern and Asian airlines through alliance and codeshare arrangements.
One common alternative will be to fly Qantas to Singapore or London and then connect to France on partner airlines. Travellers can also route through hubs such as Doha, Dubai or Abu Dhabi on other carriers, often with competitive connection times to Paris and secondary French cities.
In parallel, Perth Airport is seeing growth from other international services to Europe and the Middle East, and Australian travellers increasingly use a mix of airlines and hubs to construct itineraries tailored to price, schedule and frequent flyer preferences. For some, this may mean accepting a slightly longer trip in exchange for lower fares or better connection times.
Qantas’s broader network plans, including future ultra-long-haul flights from eastern Australia to major global cities, may eventually reshape how Australians think about reaching Europe and France in particular. For now, however, the market returns to a more traditional pattern of one-stop connections rather than a single, long nonstop sector between Perth and Paris.
What Passengers With Existing Bookings Should Do Now
Travellers already booked on future Perth–Paris flights should first review their confirmation and any schedule-change notices in their booking profiles. Airlines typically rebook affected passengers automatically onto the closest available alternative routing, subject to seat availability and fare rules.
If the replacement itinerary involves a longer journey time, additional stops, or inconvenient connection windows, passengers may have options to request different routings, refunds or travel credits, depending on the original fare conditions and consumer protection rules that apply to their ticket.
Travel experts generally recommend allowing extra time for connections when a nonstop flight is replaced with a one-stop itinerary, particularly during peak seasons in Europe and around Australian school holidays. Passengers should also double-check entry and transit requirements for any newly added transit country, including passport validity and any visa or electronic travel authorization rules.
Those planning new trips to France are advised to compare schedules across multiple hubs, consider flying into or out of alternative French airports, and pay attention to minimum connection times when piecing together itineraries. The suspension of the Perth–Paris nonstop closes one particularly convenient option, but a wide network of one-stop routes continues to connect Australia and France.