Qantas commenced direct services between Canberra and Darwin on February 1.

There will be three return flights a week, all operated by a 168-seat Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

Group executive Qantas Airlines commercial, Rob Gurney, said the new route was in response to demand from the government and business sectors and Darwin’s growth.

“Strong demand from government and business customers on one-stop services that connect the two markets has led to our launching of this new route, which will also appeal to leisure travellers,” he said.

“We are pleased to be able to facilitate increased business development and tourism opportunities. From today, Qantas offers direct return services on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays each week.”

The new services are also timed to allow customers travelling on the Darwin-Canberra sector to connect with Qantas’ Canberra-Melbourne services, as they will depart Canberra at 9.30am and arrive in Darwin at 12.25pm, before operating south again from Darwin at 1.10pm, returning to Canberra at 6.50pm.