QantasLink’s Darwin-Singapore Route Launching March 2025

QantasLink will launch direct flights from Darwin to Singapore
QantasLink will launch direct flights from the Northern Territory to Singapore. Photo: Qantas.

Qantas will add a flights from a fifth Australian city to Singapore in March 2025, with the launch of a direct Darwin-Singapore route.

Flights were originally slated to begin in December 2024, using Embraer E190s operated by Alliance Airlines. Instead, they will now launch on 30 March 2025 using QantasLink’s Airbus A220s. These aircraft are more modern and slightly larger than the E190, with 10 Business and 127 Economy seats.

The service will run five times per week, with no flights on Tuesdays or Thursdays.

QantasLink Airbus A220-300 lands at Canberra Airport
A QantasLink Airbus A220 lands at Canberra Airport. Photo: Qantas.

Singapore Airlines also serves the Darwin-Singapore route, using Boeing 737-8 jets. Until a few years ago, Jetstar Asia competed with Singapore Airlines on this route – but has since withdrawn its services.

Singapore Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX at Darwin Airport
A Singapore Airlines Boeing 737-8 MAX at Darwin Airport. Photo: Matt Graham.

Qantas’ Darwin-Singapore schedule from March 2025

Qantas’ Darwin-Singapore route will operate with the following schedule:

  • QF281 Darwin 15:55 – Singapore 19:15
  • QF282 Singapore 22:25 – Darwin 04:45 (next day)

The outbound flight from Darwin connects with Qantas flight QF1 from Singapore to London, and the same in the other direction, although the connection times are around four hours.

Connections via Singapore are also available from Darwin to destinations across Southeast Asia, as well as to Dubai and Tokyo, flying on partner airlines.

Customers eligible for Qantas lounge access will be able to use the domestic Qantas Club in Darwin before clearing immigration, as well as the Qantas Business or First Lounges in Singapore.

Credit Cards with Qantas Lounge Invitations

Qantas Premier Platinum
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Pricing & reward seat availability

Qantas has already put its Darwin-Singapore flights on sale. Airfares start from around $690 return.

There’s also a decent amount of Classic Reward seat availability on this new route. Seats cost 18,000 Qantas points one-way in Economy or 41,500 Qantas points in Business, plus taxes & carrier charges.

Qantas Classic Reward seats from DRW to SIN on QF281
An example of Qantas Classic Reward availability from Darwin to Singapore on the Qantas website.
The editor of Australian Frequent Flyer, Matt's passion for travel has taken him to over 90 countries… with the help of frequent flyer points, of course!
Matt's favourite destinations (so far) are Germany, Brazil & Kazakhstan. His interests include economics, aviation & foreign languages, and he has a soft spot for good food and red wine.

You can connect with Matt by posting on the Australian Frequent Flyer community forum and tagging @AFF Editor.
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Qantas ... intends to add Darwin – Singapore service, ... to open for reservation soon, the airline would offer 1 daily flight from 23JUN23.

Qantas Tentatively Schedules Darwin – Singapore Service From June 2023 — AeroRoutes

Interesting, although clapped out E190s competing against brand new SQ 737s.........

Reply 1 Like

@NamarrgonFlyer
Please post a screenshot of the ntnews link. It’s behind a paywall

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Tentative start date is from NS23 (June 23 2023) as a daily service, and the allocated aircraft is the Alliance Airlines E190s

Reply 6 Likes

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Qantas in Northern summer 2023 season intends to add Darwin – Singapore service, on board Alliance Airlines Embraer E190 aircraft. Subject to government approval and slated to open for reservation soon, the airline would offer 1 daily flight from 23JUN23.

QF353 DRW1820 – 2140SIN E90 D
QF354 SIN2240 – 0500+1DRW E90 D

Qantas Tentatively Schedules Darwin – Singapore Service From June 2023 — AeroRoutes

Looking at the timings, it looks like alliance could operate this in the “downtime” of qf1918/1919

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Wanting to take a slice of the premium market I would guess? Competing against SQ’s 73M with full flat beds in business and Krisworld IFE.

Reply 1 Like

Very interesting. Why not give it a go I suppose. Some government departments I know would use it.

Reply 1 Like

Had 3K continued to operate the route, it won't be as easy to access the QF lounges in SIN with their move to T4 in March 2023...

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Interesting, although clapped out E190s competing against brand new SQ 737s.........

Which are chockers at the moment. So excess demand.

Looking at the timings, it looks like alliance could operate this in the “downtime” of qf1918/1919

So good fleet utilisation (keeps costs down). So can afford to undercut on price if they need to.

Reply Like

Will be interesting to see what the lead in fares will be.

Covering the costs for a 4.5 hr intl flight with only 94 seats (assuming none are blocked for range or crew rest?)

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Happening at same time JQ cancels its flights

Reply 1 Like

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