UK to Oz *

Qantas has announced plans to open a pop-up lounge at Darwin International airport in time for the first non-stop scheduled arrival due in later today.

The airline says Darwin will remain its UK point of entry until at least April 2022 due to Western Australia border closures.

Stephanie Tully, Qantas Group Chief Customer Officer, said: “Given the relatively brief transit time of 90 minutes (to Sydney), our focus will be on offering a comfortable space for customers to stretch their legs, enjoy a brunch or light supper and to refresh before their onward journey.

The energy use of Darwin, with little or no destination traffic, opens up the whole question of European services to Australia as this Daily Mail map graphically depicts.  Eligible passengers can use the British Airways lounge in Heathrow T3.

The airline will also resume flights to Johannesburg on 5January 2022, three months ahead of schedule, followed by service to Bangkok on 14 January.

The airline stated that other international lounges will reopen “to align with the return of further international routes.”

www.qantas.com

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OUR READERS' FINEST WORDS (All times and dates are GMT)

All comments are filtered to exclude any excesses but the Editor does not have to agree with what is being said. 100 words maximum

Jim Kevan, Sydney

Perth is the big loser with this one. I really can’t see Qantas wanting to come back on London. I gather the largest numbers are those going through on the domestic route to Sydney and internationally Melbourne. Darwin is the big winner. Western Australia Prime Minister Mark McGowan has really put his foot in it. Does anyone have the figures?