Home » News » Darwin travellers to save 5 hours flying time on way to London thanks to new Qantas route

17 January, 2024

Darwin travellers to save 5 hours flying time on way to London thanks to new Qantas route

Qantas has announced it is launching a second international route from Darwin, with direct flights from the Northern Territory to Singapore to commence five times weekly from 9 December.

The flights will add more than 60,000 seats on the route each year and provide visitors to Australia with a convenient gateway to access to some iconic Top End experiences and a seamless connection to London on QF1, as well as other destinations across Europe or Asia with partner airlines.

Qantas customers travelling from Darwin will save around five hours in flying time by no longer having to fly via other Australian capital cities to get to London.

From 9 December 2024, flights will initially operate five days per week with the dual-class Embraer E190 aircraft, with plans to increase to daily from March 2025.

The new route has been made possible by the establishment of the E190 base at Darwin Airport, with the size, range and economics of the aircraft opening up routes that wouldn’t be viable with larger aircraft, including the launch of international flights to Dili in 2022.

The new route will initially operate five times weekly. (Supplied)

Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the Singapore service was a welcome addition to the airline’s international network out of Darwin.

“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,” 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.

“As the national carrier, we’re committed 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.”

Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Joel Bowden said the new service is a welcome addition to the Territory.

“This is a significant milestone for Darwin’s aviation capacity and fantastic news for Territorians looking for more choice, competitiveness and connectivity,” he said.

“The new flights will benefit locals wanting to travel overseas and also connect our ever-growing cohort of business travellers with international markets.

“Qantas’ commitment to the Territory reinforces our profile as a must-do destination for international visitors and we commend them on today’s announcement.”

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cam wallace Darwin to Singapore Joel Bowden qantas QF1