Darwin transit hub: Qantas considering schedules for international routes with uncertainty around WA border

Qantas is considering the schedule for international flights after the WA border opening was cancelled. 

UPDATE: QANTAS’ Darwin to London route may be extended for the northern summer schedule, with the West Australian border closed for the foreseeable future.

 

The route was due to change back to Perth to London in late March, but the airline have been forced to “review the planned restart”.

“A decision is expected in the next few weeks given the lead times involved,” A Qantas spokesperson said.

“Qantas is in discussions with the Northern Territory Government about extending the operation of the alternative Darwin-London route.”

The non-stop international route commenced on November 14, with five flights in and out of Darwin airport each week.

The spokesperson said Qantas is still planning to restart direct Perth to Rome flights in June, provided the border is open.

“The border situation in WA is deeply concerning,” Qantas Group chief executive Alan Joyce said.

“Tens of thousands of people booked travel on that basis and we brought a lot of our

people back to work on that basis — Removing that certainty with no new timeline for when the border will reopen is a real blow not just for travel but for Australia as a whole,” he said.

Virgin cancels select routes from Darwin

On Thursday, the NT News reported customers travelling to Melbourne had had their flights diverted to Brisbane after the airline ended direct routes.

And for those hoping to travel to Perth, there are no flights available for all of January on the airline’s website.

Once flights become available for purchase from February, all travel is diverted through Brisbane with flyers expected to stay overnight in the East Coast city on their way to Australia’s west coast.

EARLIER: VIRGIN has cancelled direct flights from Darwin to Melbourne.

The NT News understands direct flights were rescheduled to have stopovers.

All Darwin to Melbourne flight options on Virgin’s website show stopovers.

Originally published as Darwin transit hub: Qantas considering schedules for international routes with uncertainty around WA border