Qantas has announced it will launch the only direct flight from Australia to Europe from the middle of 2022 to meet demand over the peak European holiday season. From June 22 next year, Qantas will operate a Sydney to Rome via Perth return flight three times a week, cutting three hours off the current fastest route. The new route is set to complement the reinstatement of its Perth to London non-stop direct flight, expected to take off in April. It comes days after the state of Western Australia (WA) announced it would ease its hard border controls and reconnect with the rest of the country, and the world, on Feb. 5, 2022, after almost two years of isolation. Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said strong travel demand since the reopening of borders had given the company confidence to explore new destinations. “We’ve seen amazing demand on our direct service from Perth …