Qantas remains a reliable way to fly between Australia and Europe without touching Gulf hubs, routing instead through Perth and Singapore.
With fresh June attacks renewing Middle East airspace disruption, here’s who Qantas suits and the trade-offs to expect.
A US-Israel campaign against Iran that began in late February 2026 disrupted air travel across the Middle East. A fragile ceasefire has held since April, but fresh Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain on 3 June 2026 closed Gulf airspace again and forced new flight suspensions and diversions.
Gulf carriers like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad are again running reduced, fast-changing schedules. Kuwait International Airport’s main terminal was damaged, and foreign airlines there remain suspended or diverted. For travellers who normally connect through Dubai or Doha, finding alternatives is pressing again.
Who Is Qantas Best For Right Now?
Qantas is most useful for travellers flying between Australia and Europe, or between Southeast Asia and Europe via Singapore. If you’re based in Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, or anywhere in Australia and need to reach London, Rome, or Paris without transiting the Gulf, it’s one of very few full-service carriers that can get you there on a through-flight.
Travellers in Southeast Asia can also benefit by connecting through Singapore Changi, where Qantas has ramped up services to align with its European network.
Qantas is less convenient for India-Europe routes. It doesn’t fly direct from Indian cities, so travellers from Delhi, Mumbai, or other South Asian hubs would need to self-connect via Singapore or use a oneworld partner. For India-Europe, SWISS (nonstop Delhi and Mumbai to Zurich) or Singapore Airlines are likely more practical.
How Qantas Routes Bypass The Gulf
Qantas’s key advantage during this crisis is structural: its Australia-Europe routes don’t touch Middle Eastern airspace. The airline connects Australia to Europe via Perth and Singapore, flying across the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia instead of the Gulf corridor.
Perth-London Via Singapore
The flagship Perth-London route operates with a refuelling stop in Singapore using Boeing 787-9 aircraft, adding roughly three hours versus the former nonstop service. Qantas has kept this one-stop pattern in place since early March 2026 and has said it will review the routing in late July 2026, with a possible return to nonstop if Gulf airspace reopens. You can track the latest on the Qantas flight status guide.
Perth-Rome Direct
Qantas has nearly doubled capacity on its Perth-Rome service for the 2026 northern summer. According to the Qantas Newsroom, the season runs from 3 May to 23 October, rising from three to four flights per week during peak summer.
Sydney-Paris Via Singapore
The Sydney-Paris route now runs via Singapore rather than Perth, with frequencies lifted to around five flights a week for the northern summer.
Perth-Singapore Feeder
Qantas has increased Perth-Singapore services to around 10 flights a week, timed to connect with onward European services. This makes Singapore the key connection point for the network.
Schedules remain volatile. Airspace restrictions across the Middle East are still evolving, and Qantas may adjust routings as conditions change, so always confirm your flight before travelling.
The Trade-Offs To Consider
Qantas offers genuine advantages during this crisis, but it’s not without drawbacks. Here’s what to weigh before booking.
Higher Fares
Non-Gulf routes have become more expensive across the board. With demand concentrated on fewer carriers and corridors, fares on Qantas’s Australia-Europe routes have risen. Compare prices on Wego to see what’s available across dates and carriers.
Longer Travel Times
The Singapore refuelling stop on the Perth-London route adds about three hours. If you’re connecting from Australia’s east coast, factor in the domestic leg to Perth or the Singapore connection too. A Sydney-London journey via Qantas now involves at least one or two stops, compared to the single-stop convenience Gulf carriers used to offer.
Limited Seat Availability
Qantas operates a smaller long-haul fleet than the Gulf mega-carriers. Even with the capacity increases, seats on popular routes like Perth-London and Perth-Rome can sell out weeks ahead, especially in business class. Book as early as you can.
Fewer One-Stop Options Than Gulf Carriers Normally Offer
Before the crisis, Emirates and Qatar Airways connected hundreds of city pairs in one stop via Dubai or Doha. Qantas’s European network is narrower: London, Rome, and Paris. If your final destination is elsewhere in Europe, you’ll need an onward connection from one of those gateways.
How Qantas Compares To Other Non-Gulf Alternatives
Qantas isn’t the only carrier routing around the Gulf. Here’s how it compares to other options, depending on where you’re starting from.
| Airline | Hub | Europe Routes | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qantas | Perth / Singapore | London, Rome, Paris | Australia-Europe |
| Singapore Airlines | Singapore | London, Paris, Frankfurt, Zurich, more | SE Asia-Europe, India-Europe |
| SWISS | Zurich | Nonstop from Delhi, Mumbai | India-Europe |
| Cathay Pacific | Hong Kong | London, Paris, Amsterdam | East Asia-Europe |
Qantas’s clearest advantage is the Australia-to-Europe corridor, where it’s effectively the only full-service carrier offering through-flights without a Gulf transit. For Southeast Asia-Europe travellers, connecting via Singapore is viable but adds a stop. For India or South Asia, the other carriers in this table are more practical.
As a founding member of the oneworld alliance, Qantas offers broader reach through codeshare partners like British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and Malaysia Airlines. Frequent flyer points and tier status carry across all oneworld carriers, which helps when building a multi-airline itinerary.
Qantas is preparing to launch Project Sunrise in early 2027, using new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft to fly Sydney to London nonstop in around 20 hours. It won’t help during the current crisis, but it signals a long-term shift toward Australia-Europe connectivity that doesn’t depend on Gulf hubs at all.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Qantas fly through Middle Eastern airspace?
No. Qantas’s Europe-bound routes from Australia operate via Perth and Singapore, flying well south of the conflict zone. The airline rerouted its Perth-London service through Singapore specifically to avoid Middle Eastern airspace.
Can I fly Qantas from India or South Asia to Europe?
Not directly. Qantas doesn’t operate services from Indian cities. You would need to self-connect via Singapore or use a oneworld partner like Malaysia Airlines or Cathay Pacific for the first leg. For India-Europe travel, SWISS or Singapore Airlines are more straightforward alternatives.
How much longer is the Perth-London flight with the Singapore stop?
About three hours longer than the former nonstop service, including ground handling time at Changi Airport.
Are Qantas fares higher than usual right now?
Yes. Fares on non-Gulf routes across most carriers have risen due to higher demand and limited supply. Use Wego’s flight comparison tool to check real-time prices and find the best available fare for your dates.
How long will these schedule changes last?
That depends on the airspace situation, which the 3 June attacks have made more uncertain. Qantas is reviewing the Perth-London Singapore stop in late July 2026 and has said it will adjust flight paths as conditions change, so check your specific flight before travelling.
Sources
- Qantas Newsroom – Perth-Rome Capacity Increase 2026
- Qantas – Project Sunrise
- oneworld Alliance – Qantas Membership
- AeroRoutes – Qantas Perth-London Routing
- Simple Flying – Qantas Perth-Paris Route Change
- Al Jazeera – Iran Attack on Kuwait Airport
- The National – Flights Resume in Kuwait After Closure
- Khaleej Times – Kuwait Airport Attack Update
Disclaimer: Wego strives to ensure all information presented in this article is accurate and up to date at the time of publication. Travel policies, prices, visa requirements, and conditions can change rapidly. We strongly recommend verifying critical details with official sources before making travel decisions. Wego does not accept liability for any inaccuracies, oversights, or changes that may occur after publication.
