(Finance) – The company of Australian Qantas flag is landed today in Rome with a full flight, inaugurating the season of non-stop flights between Italy and Australia thanks to the rekindling of travelers’ desire to travel the world after two years of severe restrictions.
The new flight non-stop Qantas from Australia to Italy it is the only direct flight between Australia and mainland Europe offered by an airline.
Demand for point-to-point travel has increased since COVID and the new route is already proving very popular as Australians flock to Italy to enjoy a summer vacation in Europe and Europeans travel to Australia to visit friends and relatives and experience a unique holiday at the antipodes.
L’Chief Executive Officer of the Qantas Group, Alan Joycesaid he was delighted with the return of Qantas flights to Rome. “We are seeing strong demand for international travel as more and more countries relax restrictions. Australians are moving a lot. Our customers are moving overseas to reunite with families and friends, to reconnect with business. and to rediscover the world and Italy is at the top of their travel wish list “.
“We are also seeing an increasing preference for a direct flight to and from Australia, to make the travel experience as efficient and easy as possible, and we expect this to be a permanent change in the way people want to travel. Qantas – continued the CEO – began services from Sydney to Rome in 1948 as part of our seven-stop Kangaroo Route to London, and since the early 1990s we have flown our Boeing 747 “The Queen of the Skies” two times a week until 2003, when direct services were suspended during the SARS pandemic. Almost 20 years and another global pandemic later, our routes take us once again to Rome, proving that it truly is the eternal city. ” he concluded.
“Today we are honored to welcome Rome to the first flight in history from Australia to Italy and Continental Europe. – he declared Ivan Bassato, Chief Aviation Officer of Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) – This important milestone is the result of a long collaboration between Qantas and ADR with the support of the National Institutions. Rome and Italy confirm the attractiveness of the largest market in terms of volumes between Australia and Continental Europe; In 2019, around 500,000 passengers flew between the two countries with an intermediate stop. Now they can do it with a direct flight. We believe that this important achievement is only the beginning to explore further collaboration opportunities and will strengthen the already relevant social and economic relations between Australia and Italy, facilitating the development of passenger and freight mobility in the near future “.
“A breath of fresh air for the sector to see flights from overseas restart with renewed energy. The launch of Qantas and the partnership with Tourism Australia and Tourism Western Australia mark a great new start for the sector. My wish is to keep watching forward just as the nose of an airplane obstinately does and return to play a crucial role in the development of the tourism supply chain with an Italy that is ready to welcome. The dynamism of the carriers instills hope and revitalization in the destiny of one of the most desired in the world and with a greater vocation and tourist attraction “, he declares Maria Elena Rossi marketing director of ENIT.
Qantas will operate three weekly flights from Rome to Sydney (via Perth) from today until 6 October.