Jetstar cancels Darwin to Cairns flights, sparking concerns for NT lifestyle

A major airline has pulled a popular route from its flight board, and the ‘crazy’ move has brought into question the appeal of Darwin’s increasingly isolated lifestyle.

The appeal of Darwin’s lifestyle is on the line as a major airline pulls another iconic holiday destination from its offerings, further isolating the country’s smallest capital city.

Jetstar will no longer offer flights between Darwin and Cairns from October 29, making Qantas and Airnorth the only available options to reach sunny Far North Queensland.

A spokeswoman for the airline said they were exploring “redeploying its aircraft onto a new domestic route”.

“From Tuesday 29 October 2024, Qantas will increase flights between Cairns – Darwin from three per week to daily flights,” she said.

“Jetstar customers booked to travel between Cairns and Darwin after Tuesday 29 October 2024 will all be re-accommodated on a mix of next available connecting Qantas or Jetstar flights departing on the same day.

“The customer care team is in the process of reaching out to customers and re-accommodating them.”

The spokeswoman said the decision had been made in May.

Jetstar scraps Darwin to Cairns route. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Darwin resident and pediatric nurse Vanessa Gordon said she first heard about the change in flight availability while making travel plans to see her family in Cairns over Christmas.

Ms Gordon said she had tried to book early to get pick up an affordable deal, but was left wanting when there were no direct flights to be seen from the budget airline.

She said she reached out to Jetstar, who told her the route had been pulled due to a “market exit”.

“(That) doesn’t really mean much to someone like me,” she said.

“We’ve been on the flight to fly to Cairns for birthdays and weddings and things like that, and every time we’ve been on the flight, it’s full.

“It doesn’t make any sense that they’d be cancelling and it just seems crazy.”

With an 18-month-old and a five-month-old, Ms Gordon said travelling upwards of seven hours on an indirect trip to get somewhere “relatively close” was difficult.

And even though Qantas and Airnorth still offered direct options, she said those flights could cost a pretty penny for a one-way trip.

“To be honest, it’s changed our outlook on our longevity about Darwin life,” she said.

“I don’t know how long we’re going to stay in Darwin if it means that accessibility to our family is limited.”

Originally published as Jetstar cancels Darwin to Cairns flights, sparking concerns for NT lifestyle