---
title: "Melbourne (MEL) to Darwin (DRW) flights: who flies it"
description: "Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia fly nonstop from MEL to DRW, about 22 flights a week, covering 1,946 miles. See award seats by date on 2LNR, the next 14 days free."
canonical: "https://2lnr.com/routes/mel-drw"
url: "https://2lnr.com/routes/mel-drw.md"
date_modified: "2026-10-18T05:10:47Z"
---

# Melbourne to Darwin (MEL-DRW): nonstop flights and award space

Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia fly nonstop between Melbourne (MEL) and Darwin (DRW), roughly 22 times a week. The timetable below shows the nonstop scheduled at 4h 15m to 5h 30m for the 1,946 miles. 2LNR tracks award seats on Qantas across every MEL to DRW date, so you can see whether a seat exists before you move points.

Schedule last confirmed October 18, 2026. Departure times come from 2LNR's schedule data; confirm with the airline before you book.

Updated October 23, 2026.

See MEL to DRW on the interactive map [Get started free](https://2lnr.com/login)

22

Flights a week, 4-week average

4h 15m to 5h 30m

Scheduled flight time

1,946 mi

Nonstop distance

Free

To get started

## Melbourne to Darwin flight schedule

Scheduled nonstop departures for MEL to DRW starting October 23, 2026, last checked against our schedule feed on October 18, 2026. Airlines retime and cancel flights, so confirm with the airline before you book.

Scheduled nonstop departures from Melbourne (MEL) to Darwin (DRW)

| Date | Flight | Airline | Departs MEL | Arrives DRW | Duration | Aircraft |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Fri, Oct 23 | VA 1459 | Virgin Australia | 09:05 | 12:15 | 4h 40m | [Boeing 737-800](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-800.md) |
| Fri, Oct 23 | JQ 678 | Jetstar | 13:15 | 17:15 | 5h 30m | [Airbus A320](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq/a320.md) |
| Fri, Oct 23 | QF 838 | Qantas | 21:50 | 00:50 | 4h 30m | [Boeing 737-800](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/qf/737-800.md) |
| Sat, Oct 24 | QF 834 | Qantas | 08:40 | 11:40 | 4h 30m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Sat, Oct 24 | QF 836 | Qantas | 12:55 | 15:55 | 4h 30m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Sun, Oct 25 | QF 836 | Qantas | 09:25 | 12:30 | 4h 35m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Sun, Oct 25 | JQ 678 | Jetstar | 13:15 | 17:15 | 5h 30m | Airbus A320 |
| Sun, Oct 25 | VA 1467 | Virgin Australia | 20:45 | 23:50 | 4h 35m | [Boeing 737 MAX 8](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-max-8.md) |
| Sun, Oct 25 | QF 838 | Qantas | 21:05 | 23:50 | 4h 15m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Mon, Oct 26 | QF 836 | Qantas | 09:25 | 12:30 | 4h 35m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Mon, Oct 26 | JQ 678 | Jetstar | 13:15 | 16:05 | 4h 20m | Airbus A320 |
| Mon, Oct 26 | VA 1467 | Virgin Australia | 20:45 | 23:50 | 4h 35m | Boeing 737 MAX 8 |
| Tue, Oct 27 | QF 836 | Qantas | 09:25 | 12:30 | 4h 35m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Tue, Oct 27 | JQ 678 | Jetstar | 13:15 | 17:15 | 5h 30m | Airbus A320 |
| Tue, Oct 27 | QF 838 | Qantas | 21:05 | 23:50 | 4h 15m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Wed, Oct 28 | QF 836 | Qantas | 09:25 | 12:30 | 4h 35m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Wed, Oct 28 | JQ 678 | Jetstar | 13:15 | 17:15 | 5h 30m | Airbus A320 |
| Wed, Oct 28 | VA 1467 | Virgin Australia | 20:45 | 23:50 | 4h 35m | Boeing 737 MAX 8 |
| Wed, Oct 28 | QF 838 | Qantas | 21:05 | 23:50 | 4h 15m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Thu, Oct 29 | QF 836 | Qantas | 09:25 | 12:30 | 4h 35m | Boeing 737-800 |
| Thu, Oct 29 | JQ 678 | Jetstar | 13:15 | 17:15 | 5h 30m | Airbus A320 |

Showing all 21 scheduled MEL to DRW departures across 7 days with service, starting October 23, 2026. Later dates are on the interactive map.

Departure and arrival times are local at their own airport, so an arrival can fall on a different local date than the departure; the duration column is the true elapsed flying time. A dash means the airline hasn't filed that value in the schedule data we hold. Aircraft are the equipment the airline filed, named where the code pins down one type and shown as the family or the bare code where it doesn't. Swaps can happen up to departure.

See every MEL to DRW date on the interactive map

## Aircraft on the Melbourne to Darwin nonstop

In the schedule table on this page, Qantas flies the [Boeing 737-800](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/qf/737-800.md). Jetstar flies the [Airbus A320](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq/a320.md). Virgin Australia flies the [Boeing 737 MAX 8](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-max-8.md) and the [Boeing 737-800](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va/737-800.md). Each linked aircraft page shows where that airline schedules it. Airlines can swap aircraft up to departure.

## Award seats on MEL to DRW departures

2LNR tracks award seats on Qantas, date by date. Open the calendar for Melbourne to Darwin to see whether a seat exists before you move points, the next 14 days free on every product and the full horizon on Pro.

Qantas award space was open on none of the 12 Melbourne to Darwin departure dates from October 19 to November 1 that 2LNR checked in the 7 days to October 19, 2026.

### See real availability

Award seats by date on the MEL to DRW departures 2LNR tracks, checked against live inventory so you know what's open before you book.

### Set an alert

Premium inventory turns over fast. Watch this route on Pro and 2LNR notifies you when space appears on a date you're tracking.

### Plan on the map

See MEL to DRW on the interactive route map, with schedules, connections, and route statistics.

## Airlines flying Melbourne to Darwin nonstop

Carriers operating MEL to DRW nonstop in the current schedule. Where 2LNR tracks the carrier, its departures show award space by date.

- [Qantas (QF) route map](https://2lnr.com/routes/airlines/qf.md)\
  [The aircraft QF flies](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/qf.md)
- [Jetstar (JQ) route map](https://2lnr.com/routes/airlines/jq.md)\
  [The aircraft JQ flies](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/jq.md)
- [Virgin Australia (VA) route map](https://2lnr.com/routes/airlines/va.md)\
  [The aircraft VA flies](https://2lnr.com/seatmaps/va.md)

See MEL to DRW on the interactive map →

## Frequently asked questions about MEL to DRW

**How long is the flight from Melbourne (MEL) to Darwin (DRW)?**

Scheduled flight times from Melbourne (MEL) to Darwin (DRW) run from 4h 15m to 5h 30m across the departures in the schedule table on this page. The nonstop covers about 1,946 miles, and airlines adjust scheduled times by season, so confirm with the airline before you book.

**Which airlines fly nonstop from MEL to DRW?**

Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia fly MEL to DRW nonstop. 2LNR tracks award seats on Qantas.

**How many flights a week are there from MEL to DRW?**

About 22 nonstop flights a week run between Melbourne (MEL) and Darwin (DRW) in the current schedule, operated by Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia. Frequency shifts by season, and the schedule table on this page shows what is scheduled next.

**What time do flights from MEL to DRW depart?**

Scheduled MEL to DRW nonstops in the next 7 days with service leave between 08:40 and 21:50, local time at Melbourne. The schedule table on this page lists every departure by date, with its arrival time and aircraft.

**Which flights operate MEL to DRW nonstop?**

In the schedule table on this page, MEL to DRW nonstops fly as QF 834, QF 836, and QF 838 on Qantas; JQ 678 on Jetstar; and VA 1459 and VA 1467 on Virgin Australia. The table lists each departure by date with its times and aircraft.

**How do I check award availability on MEL to DRW?**

Open the MEL to DRW route on the interactive map or the matrix to see award seats by date on Qantas, the next 14 days free and the full horizon on Pro. On Pro you can also set an alert on the route and 2LNR notifies you when space opens.

Flying the other way? See [DRW to MEL nonstop flights and award space](https://2lnr.com/routes/drw-mel.md).

Award seats rather than schedules? See [Qantas award availability](https://2lnr.com/awards/qf.md).

Looking beyond this route? See [every route from Melbourne (MEL)](https://2lnr.com/routes/mel.md), or [every route from Darwin (DRW)](https://2lnr.com/routes/drw.md).

- [How to plan an upgrade by route](https://2lnr.com/guides/upgrade-strategy.md)
- [How to read award availability by date](https://2lnr.com/guides/award-availability.md)

## See MEL to DRW award space by date

See what's open by date on this route, the next 14 days free on every product and the full horizon on Pro.

[Get started free](https://2lnr.com/login)