EXPLAINED: All you need to know to get half-price flights to and from the Northern Territory

UPDATED: All your questions answered about the special half-price flights to and from the Northern Territory. Where from, where to, how, when and why

Questions from the NT News have gone unanswered as an official website suggests only Qantas flyers will benefit from half-price flights into Darwin. Picture: Supplied

NT Tourism has clarified that Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin will offer half-price flights to Darwin, however not every flight will qualify.

Questions have swirled about the details of half-price flights to Darwin, ever since the Top End was announced as a part of the scheme last month.

In clarifying comments sent to the NT News this afternoon, the media spokeswoman of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade said the 50 per cent discount applies to the standard fare for only selected routes, and can be claimed on both one-way and return flights.

Kakadu National Park from a chopper. Just being gorgeous as always. PICTURE: TOURISM NT

HOW CAN I UNDERSTAND WHICH FLIGHTS QUALIFY?

NT Tourism’s website outlines which cities can fly half-price to Darwin using which carrier.

NT Tourism Minister Natasha Fyles said on Thursday that not all flights would qualify, and there were only limited tickets.

WHICH CITIES CAN I FLY TO DARWIN FROM?

The NT Tourism Department said: Half price fares are coming in to the NT (Darwin, Alice Springs and Uluru) from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide (not Uluru), Perth (not Uluru), Cairns (Darwin only).

HOW LONG DOES THIS RUN FOR?

Discounted tickets might sell out early, so get in quick.

The sale officially ends 31 July 2021 and is valid for travel on selected tickets until 30 September 2021.

HOW CAN I BOOK?

You can book via each airlines’ individual website or through a travel agent.

Qantas, Virgin and Jetstar all have dedicated websites outlining which flights offer discounts.

EARLIER:

THE NT Tourism Department has been unable to answer questions about whether all flights into Darwin will be half priced, as confusion continues to reign around a major, $1.2bn tourism scheme.

In response to questions from the NT News, the NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade instead referred reporters to a web page which suggests Qantas flyers will receive 50 per cent off flights, with routes from Jetstar or Virgin Australia listed as being discounted.

Confusion has reigned around exactly which destinations people can fly into the Territory from on a half-priced fare, and which destinations Territorians can fly to and qualify for the fares.

The NT News has asked for a definitive list of which flights, and from which destinations, would be included in the scheme.

The NT Tourism website lists only Qantas flights as being 50 per cent off. Picture: File.

But an official response from the NT Tourism Department instead said interstate travellers should visit the Northern Territory tourism website.

The website states that some flights from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth were half price.

There are no half-price flights from Cairns to Darwin.

The NT Tourism website lists only QANTAS flights as half-price. Picture: NothernTerritory.com.au

Questions asked by the NT News included:

1. From where will tourists be able to fly to Darwin at half-price?

2. From where will tourists be able to fly to Alice Springs and Uluru at half-price?

3. To where will Darwin residents be able to fly half-price?

4. To where will Alice Springs and Uluru passengers be able to fly half-price?

5. How can people book flights?

6. Which flights qualify for the half-price scheme? How many tickets?

7. When can people book these tickets, how can they find them and how long will it run for?

There were no direct answers to any of these queries.