NT to ‘capitalise’ on border chaos to secure long-term Qantas routes

A major Qantas route will depart from the Territory as soon as Western Australian borders open, but tourism operators say there are other opportunities on the horizon.

UPDATE, 3PM TUES: A MAJOR Qantas route will depart from the Territory as soon as Western Australian borders open with the NT’s enduring “population problem” axing any medium term hopes for the international flights.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce announced a two-month extension to the ‘kangaroo route’ from Darwin to London until mid-June, with the possibility of the Territory picking up a direct Rome route if the WA border closure continued.

But Mr Joyce was clear that despite being an excellent partner during the Covid uncertainty, the Territory simply did not have an economic case to run as an international travel hub.

“The speed at which the Northern Territory Government operated, to open up lounges here to allow that happen, it’s amazing,” Mr Joyce said.

“So the dilemma we have … is that Perth has nearly 2 million people and Darwin has 150,000 people. So the demand that you get from Perth and London and back for business, for tourism, for visiting friends and relatives is bigger,” Mr Joyce said.

“We don’t get as much out of Darwin. “

Qantas CEO alan Joyce , NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles ahead of an announcement of new routes out of Darwin. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“And that’s why the economics don’t work as well. If we can fix the population problem by having a bigger catchment then that works better,” Mr Joyce said.

Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the Territory would continue to “capitalise” on the border chaos to the west.

“Possession is nine tenths of the law. So we’ve got the route the moment let’s try and do our best not to let it go,” Mr Gunner said.

The Territory will effectively have four months to capitalise on the route after international travel reopens from February 21.

Mr Gunner said four new Embraer E190 jets, which can each seat 97 passengers, would be key to developing Darwin’s business case as a travel hub.

Standing next to the Timor-Leste’s foreign affairs Minister Adaljiza Magno, Mr Gunner said the smaller jets meant Darwin’s catchment included cities like Dili, Cairns, Townsville and others within the aircraft’s five-hour range.

Qantas CEO alan Joyce , NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner and Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles ahead of an announcement of new routes out of Darwin. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Mr Joyce said if the Territory could establish itself as an international “feeding” airport there was more to its economic case, “but that’s going to take a number of years to build”.

Tourism Top End general manager Glen Hingley said the “sustainable” future of the smaller jets were a much more exciting prospect for the embattled industry’s recovery.

“It’s time to look at what new route can look like … there’s so many other opportunities,” Mr Hingley said.

“Tourism employs a lot of people directly, but a lot more Territorians indirectly.

“But we need planes to do that …(and) when the tourist stop flying so do the planes.”

INITIAL, 6AM TUES: THE Spirit of Australia has lifted the spirits of the Territory – and delivered an economic boost – recommitting to the Darwin-London route for at least an extra two-months.

Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce will today announce the so-called kangaroo route, linking southern capitals with Darwin and London, will remain in place until at least mid June.

Qantas has again overlooked the Singapore option in favour of the Territory capital.

The decision for Qantas to continue flying its double daily direct flights to London via Darwin follow the Western Australian Government’s backflip on its promise to re-open its borders on February 4.

Qantas temporarily re-routed its Perth to London service to Darwin last November when Western Australia initially refused to re-open with the rest of the country.

The agreement was due to expire in April but Qantas has now extended the so-called kangaroo route through to at least mid-June.

The announcement comes less than a week before Australia plans to re-open its international borders to tourists on February 21.

“This extension means the Top End has several months to properly leverage the opening up of Australia’s borders to all tourists,” Mr Joyce said.

“It’s a great opportunity to encourage thousands of visitors to stop off in Darwin to see what the NT has to offer.

“The work of the Chief Minister and his team, and the co-operation of Darwin Airport, have made running and now extending this service possible. Because of their help, flying between Australia and London has been a lot easier than it might have been otherwise.”

As well as the Territory’s strong connections with the founding of Qantas as Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services – Darwin is also linked strongly through the kangaroo route.

The Top End capital was the jump off point from Australia for the launch of the national carrier’s first international flight in 1935 from Brisbane to Singapore via Darwin.

Darwin was also part of the original 1947 kangaroo route between London and Sydney which took four days and flew Sydney to Darwin onto Singapore, Calcutta, Karachi, Bahrain, Cairo and Castle Benito before landing in London.

Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles said the retention of the Darwin-London hub gave Territorians options.

“The extension of the Qantas Darwin-London direct route is not only great news for Territorians wanting to visit the UK, it’s great for local tourism,” she said. “It means vaccinated British tourists will continue to have direct access to the Territory and all the great things we have to offer.”