(04 Apr 2022, 11:12 +07)
Qantas has launched flights between Darwin and
Dili, Timor-Leste.
Qantas will operate the thrice weekly return
flights with dual-class E190 aircraft, ramping up to five flights
per week in July.
Darwin-Dili is the carrier’s first new
ongoing international route from Darwin since 2008 and Qantas’
first international E190 route.
Qantas E190-100
“After two years of closed borders, this new route
is a key part of Qantas’ focus on rebuilding connectivity in the
region for businesses, families and freight. Travellers from
Timor-Leste will also be able to seamlessly transfer through
Darwin to the Qantas Group’s extensive domestic and international
network,” said QantasLink Chief Operating Officer, Petrea
Bradford. “Dili is just over an hour’s flight from Darwin and is a
great destination for the adventurous traveller, with incredible
natural beauty, unique cultural experiences and great coffee and
cuisine. We look forward to working to promote Timor-Leste and all
it has to offer to millions of our frequent flyers.”
During COVID, Qantas temporarily operated weekly
flights between Darwin and Dili in partnership with the Australian
Government to maintain critical passenger and freight links while
international borders were closed.
The new ongoing passenger route follows the
recently announced E190 base in Darwin that will create more than
90 new local aviation jobs and service key QantasLink routes from
the NT capital across Australia.
The E190 aircraft operate on Qantas’ network as
part of an agreement with Alliance Airlines. The aircraft’s size,
range and economics have opened up a number of routes from Darwin
that wouldn’t be viable with larger aircraft.
The Qantas Group operates 18 routes from Darwin,
Alice Springs and Uluru, and non-stop options from Darwin to eight
domestic destinations.
See also:
Exclusive Travel Industry Interview with Kurt Ekert, President of
Sabre.
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