Qantas revives stop on original Kangaroo route
April 2, 2025
Qantas is reviving a historic segment of its Kangaroo Route, reconnecting Darwin to Singapore with a new direct service that mirrors a key leg of the airline’s original journey from Australia to London.
The inaugural Darwin-Singapore flight, which departed on March 30, 2025, marks the return of an essential link that was once a cornerstone of global air travel.
In 1935, Darwin was the final Australian stop on Qantas’ pioneering Kangaroo Route, with the onward journey to Singapore requiring five stops and spanning four and a half days. Today, passengers can now complete the same stretch in just four hours and 45 minutes.
The new service, operating four times per week with Boeing 737-800 aircraft, is timed to connect with Qantas’ flagship A380 services between Singapore and London.
This effectively reintroduces a key stop along the iconic path that first made long-haul air travel between Australia and Europe possible.
“We’re delighted to be offering Territorians another international connection and providing a faster and more seamless way to travel with Qantas to Asia and Europe. The new flights will provide more travel options both for locals and international tourists and will also strengthen the important trade and business links between Australia and Singapore,” said Qantas CEO International, Cam Wallace.
“By adding over 70,000 new seats to the Singapore mega hub, this new route will open up more options for international visitors to make Darwin the first stop on their Australian itinerary.”
“This is a significant milestone for Darwin and a fantastic day for Territorians looking for more aviation choice, competition, and connectivity,” said Minister for Trade, Business and Asian Relations, Robyn Cahill OAM. “The new flights will benefit locals wanting to travel overseas and also connect our ever-growing cohort of business travellers with international markets.”
