Top End’s first direct Darwin-to-London flight, being undertaken by returning repatriation plane, to take off on Sunday
FEW Territorians can or want to jet off on a European vacation right now, but those bold enough (and with a permission slip) have the opportunity to jump aboard a direct flight to London.
Northern Territory
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TERRITORIANS are being offered a direct flight to London, just as Britain enters a second lockdown amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.
QF109, a returning repatriation flight operated by Qantas, will depart Darwin Airport for Heathrow on November 8 with tickets on sale from $1178.
The NT News understands the flight is returning to the UK for the third and final London-Darwin repatriation flight.
It is be the first revenue Darwin-to-London commercial flight.
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Despite the offering, many Aussie travellers are likely to be unable to buy a ticket unless they have an exemption to leave Australia from the Department of Home Affairs.
SmartTraveller lists the UK as ‘Do Not Travel,’ warning that “COVID-19 remains a risk in the UK.”
A second London-Darwin repatriation flight is expected to land on Saturday.
More repatriation flights expected into Darwin next week are a Delhi-to-Darwin service on Tuesday and the third London flight on Wednesday.
Darwin Aviation Museum curator Ken Lai said he believed it to be the first direct Darwin-to-Heathrow commercial service.
“As far as I can recollect, I don’t think there’s ever been a commercial service Darwin-to-London,” Mr Lai said.
He said it was an important milestone for Qantas, which is celebrating 100 years in operation this year.
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“It would be interesting to contrast that with the original route, which had a number of stops,” Mr Lai said.
“When they first flew the propeller services, it (cost) a year’s wage on the average income,” he said, comparing it to its current price.
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