Qantas to start flights from Darwin to Singapore

[elanshin]

Yes and no.

I tend to work on the flight up, and then - after re-timing - have quite a long break at the DRW Lounge before onwards to SIN. Also, Wifi is pretty much guaranteed all along the flight path given they are using B737. Also, I was so far travelling neighbour free on all my flights from DRW to SIN

Does QF1 have wifi? I think that QF1 is also mostly full. QF81 is hit and miss having wifi connection.

Ah fair enough, QF1 currently does not have wifi and likely the 380s will be the last in the fleet to get it.
QF81 also likely won't have wifi as that is going to be a mix of 380s and the AY 330(which also doesn't have wifi).

 

[Chrizztofa]

Possibly some movement on this - QF48 (SIN-DRW) appears to have been removed from the schedule from the end of the NS season (26 Oct 2026) onwards.

QF47 (DRW-SIN) still showing 3/4 weekly until June 2027 (except for Feb-Mar 2027 as previously reported) so we'll see if they are just reworking flight times or if the whole service will be cancelled from October.

UPDATE: Received an email confirming DRW-SIN has been from 25 October to 12 June 2027 (effectively end of schedule) as I have an affected booking. Doubt it will return.

 

[747800intercon]

DRW-SIN will become a seasonal service... Just got this from Qantas sent to travel agents...

International​

• Darwin–Singapore: Services will be temporarily suspended from 25 October 2026, with a seasonal service resuming from 12 June 2027, operating through to 21 August 2027. Customers can be rebooked to travel on a connecting flight via Melbourne or Brisbane.
• Brisbane–Singapore: Services will be temporarily reduced by two services per week from 25 October 2026, returning to nine flights per week from 28 March 2027.

Domestic​

• Melbourne–Darwin: Services will be retimed to operate as a daylight service from 25 October 2026, returning to the planned schedule from 28 March 2027.
• Melbourne–Alice Springs: Services will be suspended from 15 November 2026.

Melbourne–Perth: The previously announced reduction in widebody aircraft operating on this route will continue

 

[tm84]

I have a flight booked with them in end of November SIN to DRW and I just got this text:

We are sorry to let you know that we are temporarily suspending flights between Darwin and Singapore. As a result, your flight has been cancelled. We are rebooking you onto an alternative flight between Darwin and Singapore, with a connecting flight via Melbourne or Brisbane. An updated itinerary will be sent to you shortly via email. There is nothing you need to do. To discuss other options incl alternative flights or a refund, please contact us.

I've been moved to a flight via BNE.

 

[markis10]

No surprise, during the wet Darwin is a ghost town, when I travelled for work it was my preferred season as the hotels and rental cars were cheap and I had no competition for time with clients.

 

[Saab34]

This would be the first time they are suspending MEL-ASP? Virgin has pulled BNE also.

 

[exLXCXFF]

I have 3 flights DRW - SIN booked (coming from SYD) and got the SMS just now 3 times.

 

[nancypants]

Aargh!

 

[jrfsp]

Shocked I tell you shocked

 

[jase05]

4hrs of narrow body J now turns into 7hrs in a flat bed plus 4hrs in a recliner

 

[mviy]

4hrs of narrow body J now turns into 7hrs in a flat bed plus 4hrs in a recliner

And more SCs for you too. Why fly direct when you can fly indirect?

 

[AIRwin]

Brisbane–Singapore: Services will be temporarily reduced by two services per week from 25 October 2026, returning to nine flights per week from 28 March 2027.

I remember seeing QF53/QF54 options over Christmas recently but looks like they will be cancelled

 

[malwcal]

Sad, yet again Qantas neglecting the NT. Or should they be called QAS these days?

I guess they just can't compete with SQ.

 

[Laptop Jockey]

I have a flight booked with them in end of November SIN to DRW and I just got this text:

We are sorry to let you know that we are temporarily suspending flights between Darwin and Singapore. As a result, your flight has been cancelled. We are rebooking you onto an alternative flight between Darwin and Singapore, with a connecting flight via Melbourne or Brisbane. An updated itinerary will be sent to you shortly via email. There is nothing you need to do. To discuss other options incl alternative flights or a refund, please contact us.

I've been moved to a flight via BNE.

BNE isn't too terrible, but the idea of DRW-MEL-SIN is farcical.
This is typical Qantas, drive out the international carriers then cut the service. This is SOP at this point, and undeniably anti-competitive behaviour, but the ACCC won't touch it. But hey, it keeps foreign carriers at bay and let's QF charge criminally high prices ex-DRW domestically regardless if the pax fly QF or another airline...

 

[dajop]

BNE isn't too terrible, but the idea of DRW-MEL-SIN is farcical.

Such a north-south view of the world, there's also an east-west aspect! Fun fact: DRW-MEL-SIN is only 102 mi longer than DRW-BNE-SIN. That's about 15 mins of flying, trivial in the context the overall journey including connections.

 

[mviy]

Such a north-south view of the world, there's also an east-west aspect! Fun fact: DRW-MEL-SIN is only 102 mi longer than DRW-BNE-SIN. That's about 15 mins of flying, trivial in the context the overall journey including connections.

And in MEL it’s just a short walk from QF domestic to the international terminal.

 

[jase05]

Such a north-south view of the world, there's also an east-west aspect! Fun fact: DRW-MEL-SIN is only 102 mi longer than DRW-BNE-SIN. That's about 15 mins of flying, trivial in the context the overall journey including connections.

Plus F lounge

 

[Chrizztofa]

BNE isn't too terrible, but the idea of DRW-MEL-SIN is farcical.
This is typical Qantas, drive out the international carriers then cut the service. This is SOP at this point, and undeniably anti-competitive behaviour, but the ACCC won't touch it. But hey, it keeps foreign carriers at bay and let's QF charge criminally high prices ex-DRW domestically regardless if the pax fly QF or another airline...

To be fair to Qantas, they gave the route a go and it's not like they kicked SQ off the route. The QF of 10 years ago would never have tried it. As an end-point carrier competing with SQ (one stop to many more destinations and flat beds) it was always an uphill battle. Other carriers have also withdrawn from DRW in recent months/years, including AK (to KUL) and QZ (to DPS) which, aiming for the leisure market, I would have expected to last longer than they did.

While I'm disappointed as a DRW local, the passenger numbers just aren't there (it has always been lightly loaded - initially it was filed with an E190 then A220 before they committed to the B737). Perhaps they could right-size it again with an E190 but it may not be worth the effort. (Maybe AirNorth can give it a go with one of their wetleased E190s!)

 

[Saab34]

I assume the BNE-SIN reduction is lack of aircraft availability?

 

[exLXCXFF]

Qantas IT rescheduling.

What they missed is the fact that my journey starts in SYD on 7 Dec, doing SYD - DRW before later in the day, DRW - SYD

I guess (hope) they will eventually correct this…