Qantas has announced the relaunch of Darwin – Singapore services, commencing in December 2024. Qantas last operated non-stop flights between the city pair in 2006.

Subject to government and regulatory approval, the five-hour flights between Darwin and Singapore will operate five days per week initially and increasing to daily flights from March 2025. The route will be serviced by Embraer 190 aircraft operated for Qantas by Alliance Airlines and featuring Business Class as well as Economy Class.

The relaunched Darwin to Singapore service provides Territorians with a direct Qantas flight to/from Singapore for the first time in 18 years, as well as a seamless online connection to London Heathrow on QF1, with only a two-hour layover in Singapore.

In the City of Sails, why not stay where the city meets the sails? With windows to the Waitematā, unwind in the haven of the InterContinental Auckland’s guest rooms and explore the city centre at your doorstep. From your waterfront sanctuary of luxury in an unparalleled location overlooking the Harbour, immerse yourself in the cuisine, history, culture, art and retail therapy of Commercial Bay’s lifestyle precinct featuring over 100 fashion, beauty and dining locations.

Well-appointed with premium bedding, modular sofa, smart TV and Bluetooth soundbar, the InterContinental Auckland’s 139 guestrooms and suites each feature a Whariki (woven panel) which welcomes guests to the locale’s unique Māori culture from the instant they walk in. With floor-ceiling windows, the majority of rooms have either scenic cityscape or harbour views, or both.

Presenting a contemporary ‘twist’ on Middle Eastern cuisines and featuring fine New Zealand produce, Advieh Restaurant & Bar is the hotel’s all-day dining destination. Gareth’s culinary vision offers a relaxed dining experience, The emphasis is on sharing plates and a relaxed dining experience, enriched by the aroma and flavour of spices.

The InterContinental Auckland opened its doors on 30 January. Scheduled to open a little later this year in June 2024, the hotel’s Club InterContinental lounge will be influenced by Advieh’s menu, as will the in-room dining menu which will ensure that guests can experience similar culinary delights in the comfort of their room.

ATPI Cruise & Travel welcomes the recent announcement by South African Airways (SAA) of the return of flights from Perth to Johannesburg. Marking a significant development for the airline, the reinstated route will be operated by an Airbus A340-300 thrice weekly and the inaugural Johannesburg – Perth flight will launch on 28 April.

Indicating a strategic focus on expanding intercontinental routes within a relatively short timeframe, the Perth – Johannesburg route follows the successful return of SAA to Brazil late last year, with the Cape Town – São Paulo route being launched on 31 October 2023 and Johannesburg to São Paulo the following week. The return of the Perth route aligns with SAA’s strategic plans to scale operations to a profitable level and represents a significant step in the airline’s efforts to regain its position in the global aviation sector.

The route will mean that Cape Town, Durban, Accra, Lusaka, Windhoek, Kinshasa, Harare and Lagos will only require two-flights for passengers departing from Perth. With Victoria Falls, Port Elizabeth, Mauritius and São Paulo also becoming a two-sector proposition from Perth, ATPI’s Cruise & Travel customers will benefit from the service.