QANTAS TO RESUME CANBERRA-DARWIN FLIGHTS

Qantas, through its subsidiary QantasLink will again take to the skies between Darwin International Airport (DRW) and Canberra International Airport (CBR). It is connecting Darwin to Australia's capital once again. The flight will cooperate with Alliance Airlines, utilizing its Embraer 190 jets.

Kicking off five times a week from June 9th, this seasonal service will then operate until the end of September, with current scheduling noting the service will pause on September 29th.

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Four and half hours north

With an estimated flight time of 4hr30mins, the flight will push back from Canberra in the evening on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays, with the return on the same day, operating a schedule as below:

  • QF1983 departs Darwin at 13:40 and touches down in Canberra at 18:30
  • QF1984, returning from Canberra at 19:10, landing safely back in the Northern Territory, Darwin, at 23:15

With those locals to Canberra looking to escape the mild winter temperatures, an escape to the warm Northern Territory has been met with excitement, as reported by the Canberra Times; Michael Thomson, Canberra Airport's Head of Aviation, stated:

“The return of this route will bring more people to the region and provide an opportunity for Canberrans to escape the chill and enjoy a tropical break in the Northern Territory.”

Flights are available for booking now, as displayed on the QF website, with a return journey advertised at AU $1,560 ($1,032) in economy. Capacity for the aircraft varies between two configuration types for Alliance, with 10 Business and 84 Economy seats, or 9 Business and 88 Economy seats.

Get all the latest airline route news right here.

Re-introduced from 2021

Qantas last operated the route up to June 2021. However, network adjustments meant the route was paused. According to Flightradar24.com, it is clear that charter flights frequently operated between the two cities. However, this time, the flights will be available for the public. Before 2021, the airline was absent on the route for over nine years.

This announcement comes hot off the heels of Fiji Airways also announcing their intentions to launch direct flights from Nadi International Airport (NAN), in tropical Fiji, direct to Australia's capital. With Qantas returning to Darwin, it further expands travel options from the capital, and locals will relish the opportunity to escape to these tropical destinations.

QantasLink to New Zealand

This isn't the latest news from Alliance Airlines, with its partnership with Qantas announcing its intention to reintroduce a direct route between Brisbane International Airport (BNE) and the capital of New Zealand, Wellington International Airport (WLG). The 3.5-hour flight will go head-to-head with Air New Zealand.

QF will operate the below daily schedule:

  • QF355, departing Brisbane at 08:05, touching down in Wellington at 14:40.
  • QF356, departing Wellington at 15:40 before arriving home at Brisbane by 16:35.

The last time Qantas took on the route was operated seasonally in 2015, and its reintroduction with the Embraer 190 will be a first for New Zealand, with no other carrier running the type in the region.

Source: Canberra Times

  • Qantas
    IATA/ICAO Code: QF/QFA
    Airline Type: Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s): Brisbane Airport, Melbourne Airport, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport
    Year Founded: 1920
    Alliance: oneworld
    CEO: Alan Joyce
    Country: Australia

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