Qantas Darwin/Singapore Missing from February 2027

[Bashgrog7]

I am looking to fly the Darwin Singapore route on Qantas in March 2027, but the direct flights seem to dry up in February 2027. Loads of other choices offered and of course Singapore Airlines does this route, but Qantas only has the journey via two flights, not direct. Does anybody know if Qantas is dropping this route as a direct flight?

 

[rigram]

I am looking to fly the Darwin Singapore route on Qantas in March 2027, but the direct flights seem to dry up in February 2027. Loads of other choices offered and of course Singapore Airlines does this route, but Qantas only has the journey via two flights, not direct. Does anybody know if Qantas is dropping this route as a direct flight?

Qantas schedule has flights upto and including 30 JAN 2027 only.

I wrote to the NT Minister for transport and asked her to investigate, this is the response from the ministers office:

1. Qantas advised it will not operate the Darwin–Singapore route in February and March 2027, with an intention to resume services in April 2027.

2. In recent days, all of our airline partners (including Qantas) have advised they are experiencing a significant change in the business landscape due to a sudden increase in the price of oil. Therefore, route operating plans are subject to change.

3. Aside from Qantas, at this stage, Singapore Airlines offers flights between Darwin and Singapore 7 times a week throughout the year.

 

[Bashgrog7]

Wow, it's like magic; that's super helpful. Thankyou very much rigram!

 

[CaptJCool]

See also Qantas to start flights from Darwin to Singapore

 

[Laptop Jockey]

Qantas schedule has flights upto and including 30 JAN 2027 only.

I wrote to the NT Minister for transport and asked her to investigate, this is the response from the ministers office:

1. Qantas advised it will not operate the Darwin–Singapore route in February and March 2027, with an intention to resume services in April 2027.

2. In recent days, all of our airline partners (including Qantas) have advised they are experiencing a significant change in the business landscape due to a sudden increase in the price of oil. Therefore, route operating plans are subject to change.

3. Aside from Qantas, at this stage, Singapore Airlines offers flights between Darwin and Singapore 7 times a week throughout the year.

Strange choice to stop for just two months, twelve months out.
I would imagine Feb/Mar are probably the lowest bookings months of the year, but still strange.

 

[justinbrett]

Strange choice to stop for just two months, twelve months out.
I would imagine Feb/Mar are probably the lowest bookings months of the year, but still strange.

QF did this for MEL/HNL - although this got upgraded to a full route cancellation later.

No doubt Feb/Mar are the quietest months of the year - a great time to fly Y IMO (I got 4 seats to myself each way on SYD/HNL last month).

 

[Chrizztofa]

Strange choice to stop for just two months, twelve months out.
I would imagine Feb/Mar are probably the lowest bookings months of the year, but still strange.

Considering this route was initially filed as a E190 (94-97 seats), I'm slightly surprised it has lasted this long on a B737 which has nearly double the capacity. It seems lightly loaded during the best of times, I'd imagine it's nearly empty at this time of year.

It probably only really makes sense as a seasonal (Apr-Oct) route - perhaps that's QF's (current) plan...or they expect a temporary shortage of aircraft as the oldest B737s start being retired (IIRC starting from the end of 2026). I'm not sure if QF have published the B737 retirement schedules yet and how that compares to the arrival of replacement A220/A321XLR aircraft.