Qantas is routing its flagship QF1 SYD-LHR flight via Darwin for the next few days given Singapore is closed to transit pax. Never thought I’d see QF1 via DRW in my lifetime, let alone scheduled Airbus A380 flights at DRW, or non-stop ‘Darwin to UK/Europe’ flights ever. Insane!

Why not via Perth, I hear you ask? This routing is about 500 miles shorter in total than SYD-PER-LHR, and the longest leg, DRW-LHR, is around 400 miles shorter than PER-LHR. When you’re not picking up pax en route, that helps save fuel and/or increase payload.

For extra context, most airlines designate flight ‘1’ as their flagship. E.g. AA1 is JFK-LAX BA1 is LCY-JFK, the all-business-class A318 EK1 is DXB-LHR EY1 is AUH-FRA QR1 is DOH-LHR VA1 is SYD-LAX DRW definitely the odd one out! #avgeek #coronavirusaustralia #coronavirus #covid19