Heightened sanitation
Daily cleaning, installation of cabin HEPA filters on flights to Darwin
Qantas Airways, Jetstar and Air New Zealand have waived their change and cancellation fees on flights to Darwin. Confirm policies on booking site.
Etihad Airways does not allow booking a middle seat on flights to Darwin.
The cheapest airline ticket to Darwin from Australia in the last 72 hours was $104 one-way, and $200 round-trip on the route from Cairns to Darwin. The most popular route is from Melbourne to Darwin and the cheapest ticket found on this route in the last 72 hours was $280 round-trip.
In general from Australia, Jetstar, China Eastern and Air New Zealand fly the most to Darwin.
Darwin Airport is 6 kilometres from the centre of Darwin. View on map.
Darwin is served by Darwin Airport, also commonly referred to as Darwin. The airport code is DRW.
If you’re planning on taking the entire family on a flight to Darwin, parents of infants will be pleased to know that Darwin Airport has baby changing facilities located on the ground floor (opposite Gate 9) and the first floor (near Green Bean café), as well as in the International Departures lounge.
Since it’s only five kilometres away from the airport, Darwin City is easily accessible by the Darwin City Airport Shuttle Service, which operates 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, or by the Buslink bus service. In addition to a variety of private coaches and cars, taxi and car rental are other convenient methods of transport to Darwin City.
The Qantas Lounge boasts seating for over 300 guests, a business centre and a dedicated family zone, while the Virgin Lounge seats 130 people and features a multi-purpose meeting room and shower facilities. The Catalina Lounge, holding up to 70 people, is a premium facility with catering services that is open to all passengers regardless of their airline.
No, there are no hotels located on the airport grounds, but a complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport is one of the guest services offered by a few of the hotels in Darwin. Some of these include the Mercure Darwin Airport Resort, Novotel Darwin Airport and Quality Hotel Darwin Airport.
KAYAK is a travel search engine. That means we look across the web to find the best prices we can find for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights to Darwin.
KAYAK’s flight Price Forecast tool uses historical data to determine whether the price for a flight to Darwin is likely to change within 7 days, so travellers know whether to wait or book now.
Hacker Fares allow you to combine one-way tickets in order to save you money over a traditional round-trip ticket. You could then fly to Darwin with an airline and back with another airline.
Sometimes travel dates aren't set in stone. If your preferred travel dates have some wiggle room, flexible dates will show you all the options when flying to Darwin up to 3 days before/after your preferred dates. You can then pick the flights that suit you best.
Scores according to KAYAK customer reviews
Cons: "The crew were great it was on time and overall fabulous"
Pros: "Crew were helpful and very nice. However, as first experience flying internationally with Qantas wasn’t positive.. very proud to be Australian but their mechanical faults doesn’t help in customer loyalty."
Cons: "Flight delayed due to mechanical faults for 4 hours. $15 meal voucher is not sufficient to cover the cost of proper meal. Airlines if allocating seats automatically should not put a female in between two males, not a very nice experience. No option to amend seat."
Pros: "an amazing flying experience with pleasant crews who served their customers with hearts and their lovely smiles!"
Pros: "Same as previous answer!"
Pros: "Suberb crew. Not obsequious, just helpful with good anticipation."
Pros: "Crew was good. Seats somehow seemed narrower than normal flights I have taken with Qantas. Sat in middle not even enough space to drink tea comfortably. Wouldn't want to be in that position for any longer flights."
Cons: "As above"
Pros: "It got me from b to c"
Cons: "Significantly delayed hoarding for non technical reasons. Food was decidedly average. Seat pitch is just tolerable."
Pros: "Quick boarding and friendly staff"
Cons: "Could not eat the in flight breakfast as both contained wheat (I’m coeliac)"
Pros: "Movies"
Cons: "Breakfast"
Pros: "Healthy airline food option, friendly helpful service, use of name and I'm on the bottom rung of ff status??"
Pros: "Service good"
Cons: "Qantas actually had to book me on jet star since they failed. Waiting 12 hrs now"
Pros: "Very smooth, made it alive."
Pros: "IFE Snack - bacon quiche Service"
Cons: "Stink The usual cramped seating Long wait to deplane"
Cons: "Seated in middle seat next to a very large and very smelly person I could hardly move and certainly not attlempt to eat or drink . Airlines do need to address this situation with people who are large . Non existent entertainment"
Pros: "Flight was delayed simply due to the poor positioning of the auxiliary power unit that is an acceptable reason for delay which shows absolutely poor operational management of the local airport operations"
Cons: "Our bags were put on the wrong belt and we didn't receive them for over an hour."
Pros: "IFE for such a short flight, headset free. Cabin crew were quite pleasant. B737-800 series (Next Gen.) is a nice plane."
Cons: "Cramped. Lunch was that revolting beef & kale pocket (again!). Highest a/f of Tiger, Virgin & QF, which is fine if it’s worth it, which it most definitely wasn’t."
Pros: "Fantastic Service On time Easy boarding"
Pros: "Friendly staff, efficient processes, on time - and the only airline with a direct flight from Brisbane to Tokyo."
Cons: "If only I could afford business class :("
Pros: "It was a good and pleasant flight"
Cons: "The food was not good and it was not enough"
Pros: "Excellent flight - great from start to finish. Free wifi was a bonus! delicious afternoon tea"
Pros: "I liked the service, the friendly cabin crews. The food was good. We had a bit of turbulence on the way but all good. Thank you QF"
Cons: "On this particular flight, we had to wait like 30 minutes to get our baggage. Maybe because of the rain but otherwise all was good. Thank you QF"
Pros: "Overall ok."
Cons: "Ancient plane in bad need of a refurb."
Cons: "cramped seats. a miniscule snack, with no napkin to clean up with"
Pros: "Known quality and reliable service It was all right."
Cons: "Entertainment is bring your own screen if you want to see the programme"
Cons: "Great gluten free options! Thank you!"
Pros: "Helpful service and comfortable seats"
Cons: "Don't choose seats 9 A/B/C as there is a bulkhead and not window in this aisle (Boeing 737-800)"
Pros: "Crew was amazingly helpful in all my enquiries"
Cons: "All amazing nothing to complain about it"
Pros: "Short flight . It's ok"
Cons: "Seat"
Pros: "Dinner meal"
Cons: "Nil"
Pros: "On time"
Cons: "Get sick of explosives checks!"
Pros: "Everything was on time with very good service."
Cons: "Seat in last row very uncomfortable"
Pros: "everything"
Cons: "nothing"
Pros: "Need new planes"
Cons: "Qantas didn't help at all with my missed domestic connection between LAX and ATL. Nothing."
Pros: "Loved the hot chocolate and chocolate."
Cons: "No choices available for dinner and other snacks not very good."
Cons: "Nothing. Probably the best airline flown"
Pros: "- The kindness of the crew members - The food - The entertaining aboard"
Pros: "Another successful mission with QantasI like the overall experience and the way that Qantas recognise my platinum status it's always a great pleasure to fly to mystically and internationally with Qantas"
Cons: "I think the stream the in-flight entertainment is a bit of a cheat and then I should go back to providing entertainment those messages without a laptop or iPad"
Pros: "Wine and speed of service was excellent. Friendly and approachable crew."
Pros: "I liked that my baggage was returned to an address I gave the staff. However, my baggage was recovered and only delivered to me the Next evening at 6 p.m:(. It was most inconvenient as I had clothing For a graduation function I had to miss due to no baggage. :(:(:"
Cons: "I was most surprised to have NO baggage to arrive in Tokyo Especially as business class priority baggage. Staff at baggage handling in Tokyo were extremely helpful But NO compensation was given to allow me to purchase Basic materials. I was yoke I can collect $80 at Sydney airport On return!!!!!"
Cons: "Quick service"
Pros: "Great service as always!"
Pros: "Warm service, provide healthy high fiber choice of food"
Cons: "I asked for some drink but it's not delivered until the crew started serving drinks to all passengers. I guess she forgot about my request. The aircraft is also a quite old one so entertainment facilities are not so updated."
Pros: "great flight and staff very nice and helpful. Arrived early even better"
Cons: "Can't believe they charged me $240 for an extra bag!!"
Pros: "Entertainment selection was good, that was about it."
Cons: "Service was so poor. Being in economy they treated you like you were more of a nuisance to them then a customer. Got one drink served to me, 3 hours in, on a 14 hour flight. Our first meal was 3 hours in, and was served 30 min after the people next to me. Trash and dishes were not picked up and when we asked attendant he asked us to bring them to the cabin ourselves! after sitting with them in front of us for an hour after dinner. Window screens left up during flight omitting sun glare making It hard to sleep. been making the LAX to Brisbane or Sydney flight to 8 years now, Qantas has progressively got worse while Virgin customer service remains as a high standard. Looks like sales on Qantas will no longer entice me, I'll be sticking with virgin"
Pros: "Friendliness and punctuality"
Cons: "Not enough room. More head reclining"
Pros: "Quick boarding"
Cons: "Plane was delayed. Second Virgin flight in a row for me."
Pros: "The jumbo-ness of the craft. I felt kind of like being on a cruise ship - which is good! The attendants were terrific."
Cons: "Overhead light kind of spilled over to my neighbor's seat (me being in the outer aisle chair) even after being adjusted as much out as possible. Not a problem if my neighbor had one of those sleep masks..."
Pros: "Movies good Boarding and luggage retrieval good"
Cons: "Arrived an hour late Was another passengers fault tho but annoying"
Pros: "Left and arrived on time. The plane was nice and clean"
Cons: "Nothing. It was all good"
Pros: "Great luggage allowance and best prices."
Cons: "Not Applicable"
Pros: "Free wifi"
Cons: "Not much"
Pros: "fast boarding"
Cons: "better movies"
Cons: "Could not add baggage online"
Pros: "Quick easy painless and on time"
Cons: "My ticket was deemed void when I was checking in and I could not get on the flight. I will never book via kayak again."
Cons: "That the flight didn't wait 15 minutes for me to get on it."
Pros: "The service from the crew was great."
Cons: "I’m vegetarian, the Meals offered were really bad and i was disappointed that I wasn’t offered some of the more appealing vegetarian options that were available for the rest of the passengers"
Pros: "We arrived in Adelaide"
Cons: "Having to wait in a massive line for an hour to check in our bags after landing in Melbourne from a Virgin Australia international flight - there should be a special counter for guests who are transferring."
Pros: "The lounge and space on the flight"
Cons: "Bizarre that the passenger across the aisle from me had a ticket to Sydney which had been scanned twice by staff, didn't work, they couldn't work out why and let her on anyway after phonecalls from steward. She wasn't too pleased to be in Adelaide with all her luggage supposedly on the Sydney flight (last minute gate change). Security breach and error!"
Cons: "Going Melbourne delayed nearly 1.5hour Back home Brisbane another nearly 1.5hour and gate change a few times Very very bad experience"
Pros: "they eventually returned it"
Cons: "they lost my bag"
Cons: "they lost our bag on a direct flight, how can they do that? when we got there they only have an agent who told us to contact virgin airlines in melbourne!!!"
Pros: "The staff were lovely."
Cons: "The flight was delayed by two hours, the earphone jack only worked through one side."
Pros: "Everything was great. On time and very nice service Thanks"
Pros: "A+"
Pros: "Free drink and snack Courteous service Arrived on time Free registered luggage"
Cons: "Nothing"
Cons: "Flight cancelled, then booked by Virgin without consultation, onto a flight via Sydney that would take 6 1/2 hrs to get there, had to request another flight but still lost most of the day of my holiday, plus left with many phone calls re change of rental car, arrival , parking bookings, and no compensation and then stress when I got to the airport and was told that despite being "booked " on the much later flight, now I might not actually have a seat. I had to wait while attendant at counter tried to find seats and only watch as they were taken by someone else several times. So unnecessarily stressful and misleading. Lost my original seats, had to sit separate from my companion, and no real concern by Virgin about their impact on customers' plans. Last time I flew, the plane was cancelled, and we had to wait hours for another one in the terminal, so I missed the body corporate meeting that was the ONLY reason I was flying to Brisbane, paying for overnight accommodation and car rental and flight and I MISSED it. Huge cost for NOTHING, as despite driving straight to the meeting, it was just finishing. Whilst at the airport trying to fly home, I heard another Virgin flight cancelled , again due to "unscheduled maintenance". Seems that maintenance and mechanical problems are common and way more common than they should be. So that is a big worry!"
Pros: "Breakfast mushrooms were good."
Cons: "No butter for breakfast roll."
Pros: "Every employee I've met has made my trip seamless and delightful. Your employees are very professional. Wish you were in the US!!"
Pros: "everything was great, more movie options would be better"
Cons: "Luggage of 23kg per piece and not able to share across allocated family total"
Pros: "Like the corporate image & modern design of different facilities etc. The check-in was nice & smooth."
Cons: "No greeting or smile from crew staff (I think it's important as it shows welcoming)."
Cons: "Waiting time on transfer Staff attitude"
Pros: "Liked that they boarded from front and back"
Cons: "Nothing"
Pros: "Flight crew were lovely."
Cons: "Got told to "sit back down and don't worry" when our first flight was delayed, after I asked the lady at the gate that we may miss our connecting flight. She put other customers on different flights to make their connections, but when I approached was denied, and ensured we would make out next flight. Missed the next flight and had to wait another 3.5 hours for the next flight, even after explaining the situation to a gentleman at the customer service desk, he said he could not help us, and gave my partner and i am $8 food voucher while we waited as a 'sorry'. Then on the way home another 30 min delay. horrible first experience flying, Was very disappointed in the customer service & missed my brothers wedding. I should have booked Qantas instead of Virgin."
Cons: "Flight was very bumpy, and the air inside the plane was stuffy. I felt nauseated all the way through from take off to landing"
Pros: "The new App for you mobile device is good. I enjoyed watching the movies to help pass the time."
Cons: "There is never enough room in the seats. I am not a big person, but when a big man is sitting in the seat next to me I do not have my own space."
Cons: "TVE information they sent me to the email about the airport terminal was confusing: there is not terminal D un perth airport."
Pros: "Agent service"
Cons: "No entertainment"
Pros: "We arrived intact only 3 hours late and we were informed early"
Cons: "Seating far too little leg room. Too close together."
Cons: "I paid $65 for a seat with extra legroom, 13F, but at the airport found that I had been moved to 8A. Couldn't get my seat back, so spent 25 minutes on the phone to Virgin Australia today getting a refund."
Pros: "Reached Sydney, eventually"
Cons: "Hour late. Crowded plane, cramped. No service. Poor communication about delays."
Pros: "Efficiency at the check-in and the excellent service by the crew on board."
Pros: "Food & service fine- no complaints"
Cons: "Perhaps food could be better"
Pros: "Arrived on time."
Cons: "There was no entertainment this was especially annoying on an almost 5 hour flight. Seats were too squashy."
Cons: "The line for the Bag drop was much longer than anticipated (usually fly with Qantas which is v. quick & automated), meaning I nearly missed the flight."
Cons: "The only vegetarian food option contained gelatine, and when I asked for something different, I was told that they 'don't do that'. However, when a couple asked for something different for religious reasons, they were given another meal. I have been a vegetarian for 16 years, but apparently ethics means nothing when compared to religion. Staff were not sympathetic at all, and we went without a meal, after paying a lot of money for the flight, and checking in advance that there would be vegetarian food. Gelatine is not vegetarian."
Pros: "The awesome app"
Pros: "It didnt happen so not much"
Cons: "They cancelled the flight and didnt tell me. The only reason i knew is Tripcase sent me a notification"
Cons: "You are all ways late"
Cons: "The flight was cancelled the last minute and I called the carrier airlines and they say that nothing can be done and I asked to speak to someone from Kayak and I called a mobile number and had no answer , I will never book again"
Pros: "Pleasant crew"
Cons: "Virgin still doesn't cater for gluten intolerance dietary requirement...it's so easy with a stew, curry, salad etc...anything without pasta or bread..yet they manage to ensure that there's gluten in EVERYTHING, even dishes that shouldn't normally have them...not happy Virgin, take a leaf from Qantas!"
Cons: "Seats didn't have USB charging and would like to see more recline and comfort. Also more food options to cater for dietary needs."
Pros: "Nothing."
Cons: "They cancelled my 3pm flight on a Friday without notice and gave 2 different excuses. Weather then crew. You work out which was real. Compassion - nil. Considering how much I fly, I guess I will stick with Qantas in future."
Pros: "Flight and cabin crew were good"
Cons: "Long delays at check in. Having arrived very early, i was horrified at size of queue."
Cons: "Airline lost our bags on way to Australia so we had to buy extra clothing and personal items while here. Then airline charges us $65 because our bags are overweight with the things we had to buy because of lost bags."
Pros: "They charge extra for a seat, carryon bags, soda... most expensive carrier"
Pros: "All were very good."
Cons: "Be sure to book your luggage in advance to avoid high fees."
Pros: "Aircraft had a device holder. Good idea!"
Pros: "It was clean and spacious."
Cons: "I wish entertainment and/or snacks were provided."
Pros: "Crew were really nice"
Cons: "Was a dylay but not too long"
Cons: "Entertainment"
Pros: "Domestic flight, no entertainment on board staff just, can't even get a glass of water,"
Pros: "Loved we departed on time & landed a little early"
Cons: "That we had to abort a landing & circle round to try again."
Pros: "We paid for extra legroom seats because we were so uncomfortable on the flight up to Cairns. It was worth the money to be comfortable. As it happens it was an older plane with more room anyway."
Cons: "Nothing"
Cons: "Was disgusted that I had only a 6kg small carryon suitcase & a laptop in my handbag (6kg) and had my carryon taken off me & put on the next flight & not getting delivered until 10pm tonight!!! Plus had to pay $60 and buy some clothes to wear to event tonight as luggage won’t arrive in time. Will never fly Jetstar again!!!"
Pros: "The plane got us to Darwin."
Cons: "$60 per checked bag, even at 30 per bag its still more expensive than other carriers, so if you have a bag to check, skip Jetstar"
Pros: "no concerns - had a seat free next to me which made it a pretty perfect flight"
Cons: "No entertainment at all, not even a app"
Cons: "Bad weather. Also in the air... but the captain now it well what to do. We're very happy tp be landing in storm at Darwin."
Pros: "I wasn’t able to select a seat and was assigned a middle seat, but the service desk agent at ADL moved me to an aisle seat without charge. Food was reasonable value and tasty, if cold (who refrigerates a muffin?!)"
Cons: "Usual Jetstar pain having to call to add extra luggage (qantas booking) and then curiously Jetstar telling me to ring qantas for an updated itinerary"
Cons: "Not one of the better airlines."
Pros: "Great crew that were all very friendly, Water was provided for free"
Cons: "Meals are not provided and drinks other than water will cost you My luggage was not automatically transferred into the connecting flight"
Pros: "Fairly much on time"
Cons: "My muffin was served to me cold. $5 for a cold muffin. Next time I’ll get a hot chocolate instead."
Pros: "Boarding"
Cons: "Entertaiment was paid. Previous jetstar flights was free. I tried to purchase the machine did not read none of my credit cards. Bad experience overall."
Cons: "Boarding was late and congested Not organized"
Pros: "Price"
Cons: "Plane left an hour late"
Cons: "All food and drink service needed to be purchased. Had an issue with a lost wallet left on the plane, and limited help in retrieving it."
Cons: "Impossible to sleep"
Pros: "Nice crew"
Cons: "The plane was freezing, and there were no TVs for entertainment or blankets to help mitigate the cold"
Pros: "Everything, except luggages were not included"
Cons: "We had to pay for any entertainment"
Pros: "Excellent boarding process."
Cons: "No drinks or snacks"
Pros: "Boarded on time"
Cons: "15 mins late departing"
Cons: "Kayak did not disclosed the price quoted did not include fees for luggage. I would never buy a ticket thru Kayak again."
Pros: "We boarded and left on time. Crew was very pleasant."
Cons: "They only allow 7kg carry on which forced us to check 2 bags @ $30 each. It's just to extract money. It looked like a reasonable fare but by the time we paid fees, seats and luggage, another airline would be a better choice. They chatged us a $60 "third party" between Queenstown and Cairns. Ridiculous...I won't fly with them again."
Cons: "$15 per kilogram charge for over weight luggage is a rip off"
Pros: "Fairly efficient, cheaper price."
Cons: "Had employee going down boarding line with a scale charging extra $50 if you were over their ridiculously low weight limit for a carry on bag. Had no problem with same bag on numerous other airlines."
Pros: "On checking in, they charged us a penalty fee, and then our flight got cancelled at the last minute without any options to get back to the city in time for work. Had to book a last minute flight with a different airline and couldn't get luggage back in time to take it along!"
Cons: "Surcharge up to $160 if exceeding 7kg of all your carry on bags (including personal item). Rude employees relating this info to me and my husband."
Cons: "Ordered food online. Would be better just buying when on flight. Egg sandwich both flights. No choice."
Pros: "Flight was delayed and board said new time was 40 mins later when plane arrives. Gate then changed very close to boarding time."
Pros: "I like the fact that when you book a flight you then have to pay for a seat .... What do you expect us to stand ! then you have to pay for baggage and all the other hidden costs .... after you have payed !"
Cons: "Dont have a credit card and they say we will be only taking credit card for beverages . On the flight over they said the reason was because we came from Bali and had no change but why the flight from Adelaide so again couldn't buy anything... Great service !"
Pros: "I have used this airline several times for short (2h30) and long (8h) haul flights and they are just aweful. Only certain people get food (even on the long haul), horrible staff that look down on you and ignore you, uncomfortable seats that make you feel like a sardine. Just aweful"
Pros: "Won't book with jet star again"
Pros: "Not as cramped as I thought it would be."
Cons: "They served some people food prior to anyone else that somehow ordered in advance, I had to ask for food and then dig through a menu that was hidden in the seat in front of me and the food that was offered was different than the other people."
Pros: "Had a seatbelt"
Cons: "Seat did not recline. Crew said was broken. Second crew said didn't recline because near exit. Think should be informed of this when allocated seat"
Pros: "No frills, clean, simple and basic"
Cons: "I thought my ears were deceiving me when they mentioned 3 AUD for lavatory use! Inhumane! And that's on top of having to pay for my check-in luggage. I felt completely dooped! Traveling through the outback, I had no scale, no wifi, etc. And after paying an exorbitant amount, we were STILL given hassles for our carry-on.. Apparently if you "wear" your luggage on your body, it's free of charge (but on aggregate, it still adds to weight & balance of the plane). And how this all contributes to fast handling is beyond me. Moronic rules! Of all the great times I had in Australia, JetStar was the only utter disappointment I had to endure! Never again!"
Cons: "Overpriced excess of luggage. Classic trick only used by the cheapest airline companies."
Pros: "Price"
Cons: "No entertainment"
Pros: "Nothing. Thought we had booked Qantas and got Jetstar"
Cons: "That the flight ran late That the menu is disgusting. Nothing fresh. No originaliry"
Cons: "Flight was actually Jetstar so the service was worse and no meals were included on a long flight."
Pros: "We can't remember his name but the cabin crew leader was excellent with a great sense of humour. He really "made" the trip. He was also firm but in a polite way when someone stood up before they should have. We didn't have anything to eat so can't comment on the food. Carolyn and Andrew Dowling"
Cons: "The flight was delayed then check in staff were rude"
Airlines flying to Darwin have enacted additional safety measures and adjusted policies to better accommodate travellers. Policies vary by airline.
Heightened sanitation
Daily cleaning, installation of cabin HEPA filters on flights to Darwin
Mandatory masks
Masks required on board, masks provided on flights to Darwin
Social distancing seating
Middle seats unavailable to book on flights to Darwin
Pre-flight testing
Testing for antibodies, testing for symptoms for flights to Darwin
Flexible cancellations
Waiving of change fees. Search flexible flights to Darwin