Aviation

Qantas announces new daily flights on Darwin-Singapore route

Qantas has declared that it will begin operating direct flights from Darwin to Singapore, marking the launch of a second international route.

Starting in December, more than 60,000 seats will be added annually to the route by the new Qantas flights, giving tourists travelling to Australia an easy way to experience some of the most famous Top End attractions.

Territorians will be able to travel directly with Qantas to Singapore and seamlessly connect to London on QF1, in addition to other destinations in Europe and Asia via partner airlines, with these flights. Customers of Qantas flying from Darwin to London will no longer have to spend five hours in flight time passing through other Australian capital cities.

Beginning on December 9, 2024, flights using the dual-class Embraer E190 aircraft will operate five days a week; starting in March 2025, the frequency of flights will increase to daily.The Qantas Club in Darwin will be open to qualified passengers and frequent flyers before they pass through immigration and security. Customers who qualify will be able to use Changi Airport’s Qantas International First or Business Lounge upon their return.

Starting today, fares are available on qantas.com and through travel agencies, with return fares starting at $690. The Qantas Group offers non-stop service to eight domestic locations from Darwin, along with 18 routes that originate in Alice Springs, Uluru, and Darwin.

Examples of one-stop destinations available from Darwin via Singapore. Return fares starting from:

Darwin-London	$2,511	(Qantas/Qantas)
Darwin-Kuala Lumpur	$849	(Qantas/Jetstar Asia)
Darwin-Bangkok	$843	(Qantas/Jetstar Asia)
Darwin-Phuket	$906	(Qantas/Jetstar Asia)
Darwin-Dubai	$2,338	(Qantas/Emirates)
Darwin-Amsterdam	$2,451	(Qantas/KLM)
Darwin-Tokyo	$2,068	(Qantas/Japan Airlines)

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

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The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

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China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.