Qantas Launches Darwin-Singapore Direct Flights
Qantas has announced the launch of a new international route with direct flights from Darwin, Australia, to Singapore, commencing in December 2024. This service, operating initially five days per week and increasing to daily from March 2025, will significantly enhance connectivity options from the Northern Territory to Asia and Europe.
The introduction of this route, serviced by the dual-class Embraer E190 aircraft, is a major development in the aviation industry, particularly for the Northern Territory. The new service will add over 60,000 seats annually, offering a direct Qantas option to Singapore and seamless connections to London on QF1, as well as to other destinations in Europe and Asia with partner airlines. This service significantly reduces travel time, saving approximately five hours for passengers travelling from Darwin to London or other Asian and European destinations, by avoiding transits through other Australian capital cities.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace expressed enthusiasm about the new service, highlighting its importance in strengthening trade, business, and tourism links between Australia and Singapore. He noted that the route would restore the link to the UK established when international borders first reopened after the pandemic. This service also makes it much easier for Qantas customers from the UK, Europe, and Asia to incorporate Darwin into their Australian itinerary and experience everything the Territory has to offer.
The significance of this new route is further underscored by its historical context. Darwin was the final Australian stop-over on the original Kangaroo Route from Australia to London in 1935. The service has evolved remarkably since then, transitioning from a journey that took four and a half days with five stops to a mere four hours and 45 minutes on the direct flight introduced in 2024. Qantas last operated direct flights between Darwin and Singapore in 2006, marking this as a significant revival of a historically important route.
Eligible Qantas customers and Frequent Flyers will have access to the Qantas Club in Darwin prior to clearing immigration and security. Upon their return, they will be able to use the Qantas International First or Business Lounge at Singapore’s Changi Airport. Fares start from $690 (AUD) return and are available for booking via Qantas' website or through travel agents.
This new service is not just a convenient travel option but a testament to the evolving landscape of international air travel, highlighting the strategic importance of Darwin in connecting Australia with major global destinations.
