Perth to Rome Delayed — Qantas Nonstop EU261 on Return

Is Qantas Perth–Rome covered by EU261?

Outbound PER → FCO: no — Perth is not in the EU and Qantas is not an EU carrier. Return FCO → PER: yes — Italy is an EU member state and EU261 covers all carriers leaving EU airports. €600 (≈A$1,000) per passenger for 3+ hour arrival delay or cancellation with under 14 days' notice.

Is Perth–Rome the only Australia–continental Europe non-stop?

Yes. Until Qantas Project Sunrise (planned 2027), PER–FCO is the only direct connection between Australia and continental Europe. The route operates 4 times per week in Northern Hemisphere summer (typically June–October) on Boeing 787-9. Out of season the route is suspended; passengers transit via Singapore or Doha.

What's the Italian limitation period?

2 years from the flight date — one of the shortest in the EU. Always file with Qantas promptly and escalate to ENAC (Italian civil aviation authority) within 2 years if rejected. Don't let your claim expire.

How much can I claim for a 5-hour Qantas FCO–PER delay?

€600 per passenger. PER–FCO is approximately 13,200 km — well over the long-haul threshold. EU261 long-haul tier is fixed at €600 regardless of how far above 3,500 km. Family of four: €2,400 (≈A$4,000).

Where do I file?

First file with Qantas at qantas.com → Help → Compensation, citing EU Regulation 261/2004 and the Italian departure. If rejected, escalate to ENAC. A no-win-no-fee service such as ClaimWinger handles ENAC escalation from Australia.