Qantas Rome-Perth non-stop remains only Europe-Australia direct flight amid Middle East disruptions

A business class review of Qantas' 16-hour 10-minute Rome-Perth flight, currently the only non-stop Europe-Australia service in each direction. It covers route changes, points earnings, cabin details, dining, sustainability and Project Sunrise context. The Qantas Rome to Perth service is currently the only non-stop flight between Europe and Australia in each direction. This business class journey took 16 hours and 10 minutes, with a right-on-time departure from Rome and an arrival 25 minutes early in Perth. Middle East airspace disruptions have forced other Qantas services, including Paris flights and westbound Perth-London flights, to detour via Singapore. Despite the wider conflict, the flight left from a busy Thursday morning at Fiumicino Airport. Qantas check-in was peacefully quiet, and the writer's suitcase was tagged straight through to Melbourne. Passengers were reminded to collect their bags in Perth for customs clearance before dropping them off again. The route offers an early taste of Qantas Project Sunrise plans, which aim to connect Sydney and London non-stop. In Rome, Qantas uses the crowded Plaza Premium lounge, though eligible passengers can retreat to the quieter British Airways lounge through the airlines' joint partnership and Qantas Frequent Flyer or Oneworld alliance access. Lead-in business class fares on this flight earn at least 14,100 Qantas points and 240 status credits, rising on flexible tickets. Classic Reward seats are rare and cost 130,000 Qantas Points plus taxes and charges when they are available, while Classic Plus bookings generally need considerably more points. Checked baggage allowance is up to 40 kilograms. This climbs to 52 kilograms for Qantas Club and Qantas Silver members, 56 kilograms for Gold, and 60 kilograms for Platinum, with a maximum of 32 kilograms per piece regardless of status. Cabin baggage covers two items with a combined weight of 14 kilograms, and the heaviest bag may be up to 10 kilograms. The business cabin has a staggered 1-2-1 layout with direct aisle access from every seat. Seat space is 60 inches or 152 centimetres of legroom and 23 inches or 58 centimetres wide. Odd-numbered window seats give the best views and extra separation from the aisle; the writer was in an even-numbered seat. A mattress topper, blanket, pillow and pyjamas support sleep, and the 80-inch or 203-centimetre flatbed let the writer rest for about seven hours. The massage function also got a good workout. The 16-inch or 40.6-centimetre entertainment monitor has a wide library of new and old content. Supplied noise-cancelling headphones are better than economy headsets but still cannot beat a quality bring-your-own pair. Each seat has one USB-A socket and one universal AC outlet. Free Wi-Fi is being progressively introduced across Qantas' Boeing 787 fleet. Today's aircraft had the antenna, but the system was down, which the writer called bad luck and hopes is not repeated on Project Sunrise routes of up to 22 hours from gate to gate. Service was delivered with a smile. The captain announced a route over Egypt, and the cabin crew passed on a question from passengers to the flight deck about whether they might spot pyramids. Haze and distance meant no pyramids were visible, but the airspace views were captivating. Since the review flight, the route has changed to head east from Rome over Turkey, the Stans and India. Champagne arrived promptly during boarding, with another round after take-off accompanied by salted nuts. Lunch was a three-course service, beginning with arancini as a fitting departure from Italy. Of four main courses, the writer chose slow braised lamb shoulder with soft polenta, braised cavolo nero greens and Sicilian olive salsa, paired with a glass of Stella Bella 2002 cabernet sauvignon. Dessert was tiramisu in a glass, praised as on point and carrying a strong alcoholic kick. A soppressata salami, provolone and pickle panini served as a mid-flight snack. Breakfast was pre-ordered before dinner to maximise rest; the latte, fruit salad, blood orange juice and sfogliatelle pastry were enjoyable, though the spinach and ricotta torta was a bit bland. Qantas is scrapping its climate-conscious Green Tier initiative in December. Travellers will continue earning 10 Qantas points per dollar spent on carbon offsets after that change. This flight continues to Sydney, although passengers may end their journey in Perth or connect to other domestic destinations there. A domestic Boeing 737 connection would mean a recliner-style business seat, a downgrade to premium economy after the long flatbed leg. Those with a choice should select an Airbus A330 connection or QF6 through to Sydney. Boarding in Rome and arriving on Australian soil is a significant time saver, though east coast travellers still face a one-stop itinerary, so comparing fares is worthwhile. Fares referenced at the time of writing were based on travel in October 2026 and remain subject to change. Project Sunrise will eventually change that dynamic once non-stop flights between Europe and Australia's east coast become reality. The writer is Chris Chamberlin, a points coach whose adventures include almost 1,000 flights aboard more than 80 airlines and lifetime frequent flyer status. He enjoys maximising points and helping others travel in comfort without breaking the bank.