Qantas pushes back A220 flights to Singapore

The direct connection between the Top End and Singapore isn’t kicking off quite as Qantas had hoped...

By David Flynn, February 14 2025
Qantas pushes back A220 flights to Singapore

Qantas is delaying the international debut of its latest Airbus A220 by seven months.

The airline intended this nimble factory-fresh jet to launch direct flights between Darwin and Singapore on Sunday 30 March.

But while that route will go ahead, travellers will find themselves on Qantas’ familiar Boeing 737 workhorse rather than the newer Airbus model.

That’s not a bad thing: at least the 737 has seatback video screens, which Qantas chose to leave off the A220 due to its focus on shorter domestic routes, especially since most people carry their own devices these days.

Qantas has also rejigged the timetable for the Singapore-Darwin 737, which will now run four days a week rather than five, to reflect the Boeing’s higher seat count compared to the A220.

  • QF113 (Boeing 737) will depart Darwin at 2.55pm, reaching Singapore at 6.15pm
  • QF114 (Boeing 737) will depart Singapore at 7.20pm, reaching Darwin at 1.40am the next day 

Qantas says its A220 will now take over the Top End route from Sunday October 26, toggling up to five flights per week on the following schedule:

  • QF281 (Airbus A220) will depart Darwin at 4.05pm, reaching Singapore at 7.25pm
  • QF282 (Airbus A220) will depart Singapore at 10.25pm, reaching Darwin at 4.45am the next day

Those times generally fit around the Singapore stopover of Qantas’ flagship QF1/QF2 superjumbo flights on the Kangaroo Route – which leaves Singapore for London at 11.05pm, and lands in Singapore from London at 5.40pm – as long as you don’t mind spending four to five hours at Changi (having lounge access will soften the blow).

Qantas A220 business class.
Qantas A220 business class.

Executive Traveller review: Qantas A220 business, economy class

Having last operated Darwin-Singapore flights in 2006, Qantas will now be hoping “third time’s the charm” for the route’s return, given it was previously due to launch in December 2024 using a leased Embraer E190 jet.

Qantas tells Executive Traveller the A220 has been temporarily removed from the Darwin-Singapore route to support the re-training of former QantasLink Boeing 717 crew on this all-new and vastly different jet as it continues to operate along the east coast.

The A220 already connects Sydney and Melbourne with Hobart, Launceston and Coffs Harbour, along with Melbourne to Canberra and Brisbane – and QantasLink CEO Rachel Yangoyan wants to keep her A220s busy.

“You’ll see it come down (from Darwin) and then cycle through Melbourne onto all the other routes,” Yangoyan has told Executive Traveller.

Qantas will eventually hold the keys to 29 Airbus A220s by the end of 2027, “and we know we’re going to need all 29.”

Qantas A220 economy class.
Qantas A220 economy class.

Executive Traveller review: Qantas A220 business, economy class

Qantas adds that the A220s will offer fast free WiFi all the way to Singapore and back by late 2025, as the jets come equipped for both the Australian NBN and international ViaSat-3 satellites, with the capability to switch between networks depending where the aircraft is flying.

Five of the red-tailed A220s are already flying, and this year’s deliveries are reportedly on track – although it will take two more arrivals by mid-2025 to catch up to the seven which Qantas originally expected to have in December 2024.

Of course, Qantas doesn’t have the Darwin-Singapore skies all to itself: the Flying Kangaroo competes with Singapore Airlines, which flies its regional Boeing 737 MAX fitted with lie-flat business class beds, seatback video screens for all seats, free WiFi.

A raft of onwards flights then spear out from its Singapore hub across Asia, Europe, the UK and the Americas.

Also read: Get a fast-track to Singapore Airlines Gold status – without taking a single flight!