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Qantas completes inaugural Perth-Paris nonstop service smoothly

Qantas completes inaugural Perth-Paris nonstop service smoothly
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Geoffrey Thomas Editor-In-Chief - US Bureau Chief | Airline Ratings

The inaugural Perth to Paris nonstop service by Qantas on its Boeing 787, VH-ZNB, "Waltzing Matilda," was completed successfully with a touchdown at 6:55 am after a flight duration of 16.38 hours. The seat belt sign was activated only once for five minutes, indicating smooth conditions throughout the journey.

Celebrations began at check-in at 4 pm, featuring Qantas crew in French-styled uniforms and themed decorations including macarons and an Eiffel Tower. Security procedures were straightforward but required twice—once for entering Domestic Terminal 4 and again for the International section of Terminal 3.

Qantas's International Lounge embraced a French theme, with staff attire, food offerings, and Champagne reflecting the motif. Passengers sensed an optimistic atmosphere as they prepared to participate in another milestone for Australia's long-standing airline.

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Qantas’s expertise extends beyond passenger view into pilot training facilities, engineering teams, and operations headquarters that monitor aircraft in real-time via satellite. Any detected issues are promptly addressed by a team of pilots, engineers, and weather experts stationed at the operations center.

Despite challenges posed by COVID-19 and subsequent supply chain disruptions affecting the airline industry globally, Qantas staff appeared confident about moving forward positively.

Boarding the Boeing 787 was efficient; passengers were greeted with French flags. Cabin crew displayed enthusiasm reflective of the flight's celebratory nature. Business Class passengers enjoyed enhanced services despite initial delays due to media interviews with executives and commentators.

The Business Class menu offered diverse options including Confit duck and mushroom vol-au-vent followed by Bouillabaisse of snapper and Skull Island prawns for main course. An ice-cream sandwich concluded the meal before sleep ensued—a rarity for some travelers but achieved on this flight.

Breakfast service provided three hot choices approximately two hours before landing in Paris where passengers were welcomed by Qantas staff offering croissants and orange juice alongside mascots like Kangaroo and Quokka.

Throughout the flight, the Boeing 787 maintained speeds up to 922 km/hour following a route from Perth across southern India to Oman, over Dubai into the Persian Gulf through Iraq into Turkey before reaching Paris.

Geoffrey Thomas participated as a guest of Qantas on this historic flight.

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