Travel to Asia (and beyond)is about to get a whole lot easier for Northern Territorians after Qantas announced it would be commencing flights between Darwin and Singapore.
Starting on 9 December 2024, Qantas will initially operate the service five days a week before upping its frequency to a daily service from March 2025.
Marking just the second international route the airline will operate out of Darwin (after East Timorese flights commenced in 2022), the new service will add over 60,000 seats between the NT capital and Singapore each year.
Singapore Airlines is the only other carrier to offer international flights out of Darwin.
Utilising its two-class Embraer E190 aircraft on the route, Qantas will link Darwin with direct flights to the Southeast Asian nation for the first time since 2006.
As well as providing easier access to Asia, the new service will give Territorians the option to connect with Qantas’ QF1 service to London, along with other destinations across Europe with partner airlines.
By joining Heathrow-bound flights at Changi Airport instead of having to fly through another Australian port, Qantas flyers will save around five hours of flying time to the UK.
Qantas says its E190 base at Darwin Airport will help facilitate the new route by enabling it to operate a service it wouldn’t have been able to fly with larger, less economical aircraft.
While the new service will no doubt provide a boost to overseas travel, tourism to Australia should also benefit, with Top End experiences now easier to reach for international visitors.
“We’re thrilled to be offering our customers another new international route out of Darwin and strengthening the important trade, business and tourism links between Australia and Singapore,” Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said.
“The direct service is not just great news for Territorians wanting to visit Singapore, but also for those travelling to London, Europe and across Southeast Asia, with connections to popular destinations like Phuket and Kuala Lumpur with our partner airlines, saving hours of travel time.
“This new route also allows us to restore the link to the UK which was established when international borders first reopened after the pandemic and we temporarily re-routed our London flight via Darwin with the support of the Northern Territory Government and Darwin Airport.”
Two-way tourism boost
Wallace also flagged the carrier’s commitment to “showcasing the best of Australia to visitors from around the globe”.
“This new service makes it much easier for Qantas customers from the UK, Europe and across Asia to incorporate Darwin into their Australian itinerary and experience everything the Territory has to offer,” he remarked.
NT Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Joel Bowden echoed Wallace’s comments, calling the announcement “a significant milestone for Darwin’s aviation capacity and fantastic news for Territorians looking for more choice, competitiveness and connectivity”.
“The new flights will benefit locals wanting to travel overseas and also connect our ever-growing cohort of business travellers with international markets,” he added.
“Qantas’ commitment to the Territory reinforces our profile as a must-do destination for international visitors and we commend them on today’s announcement.”
Fly in comfort
Before clearing immigration and security, eligible Qantas customers and Frequent Flyers can use the Qantas Club in Darwin. Upon return, eligible customers can use the Qantas International First or Business Lounge at Singapore’s Changi Airport.
Round-trip fares on the route start from $690.
The flying kangaroo also operates eight domestic services out of Darwin Airport.
Today, Qantas also launched a domestic and international sale to popular Pacific destinations including Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island and Tonga.
Last month, QantasLink welcomed its first Airbus A220 aircraft, sporting special Indigenous livery.
