Stopovers are almost unheard of on domestic flights in Australia. However, Qantas is currently operating a flight from Darwin to Adelaide with a 45-minute stopover in Alice Springs. It’s the one flight (QF859) using the same Adelaide-based aircraft and crew … not a connecting flight. Some passengers leave / join the flight in Alice Springs.
Join me on as I take this flight from Darwin to Adelaide during the pandemic. At the time of this flight, South Australia and the Northern Territory did not require any self-isolation when travelling between these (then) COVID-free locations.
The flight is in Business Class, providing the unusual benefit of two meal services (breakfast and brunch) on the one flight. I also take a look in the Qantas Club at Alice Springs Airport. There’s a glimpse of the Pine Gap US satellite surveillance base, and incredible views of the West MacDonnell Ranges, approach to Alice Springs.
This video features check in, boarding, pushback, taxi, takeoff, climb, breakfast and brunch service, cabin announcements, descent, approach, landing, taxi to the gate and deboarding.
The takeoff from Alice Springs Airport features views of the Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage (APAS) facility next to the runway. The facility is home to dozens of wide-body aircraft (including many Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines planes).
If you want to watch the full, unedited takeoff and landing footage, please visit my second channel, Aus Flight Channel Extra:
✈ Airline: Qantas
✈ Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
✈ Aircraft registration: VH-VXA (Broome)
✈ Seat: 3F
✈ Route: Darwin (YPDN) – Alice Springs (YBAS) – Adelaide (YPAD)
✈ Takeoff runway (Darwin): 29
✈ Cruise altitude: 37,000 feet (Darwin to Alice Springs); 39,000 feet (Alice Springs to Adelaide)
✈ Landing / Takeoff runway (Alice Springs): 12
✈ Arrival runway (Adelaide): 05
✈ Flight: QFA859 / QF859
✈ Class: Business (upgrade using Qantas Frequent Flyer points)
✈ Date: 27 October 2020
EQUIPMENT:
✈ Camera: GoPro Hero 8, GoPro Hero 6 and iPhone XR
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:33 Arriving Darwin International Airport
00:53 Check in
01:08 Terminal tour
02:19 Boarding
02:42 Seat tour
03:10 Passenger announcement
03:25 Pushback and engine start
03:49 Taxi to Runway
04:24 Lineup and takeoff
05:25 Rotate and climb with views of Darwin CBD
06:15 Route map to Alice Springs
06:55 Breakfast service
07:18 Seat features
07:33 Descent and crew announcements
08:08 West MacDonnell Ranges
09:19 Landing Alice Springs Airport
10:10 Taxi to terminal
11:06 Deboarding Alice Springs
11:30 Alice Springs Airport and Qantas Club
12:02 Reboarding aircraft
12:24 Departure announcement
12:30 Engine start
12:54 Taxi to runway
13:45 Takeoff with views of Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage
15:00 Route map to Adelaide
15:28 Brunch service
15:49 Lavatory tour
15:59 In flight views and flight cost
16:30 Descent towards Adelaide
16:52 Final thoughts with views of southern beaches
17:54 Landing Runway 05
18:47 Taxi to gate and arrival announcements
19:51 Deboarding
20:05 Border entry process and conclusion
Soundtrack: Nothing on Me by Patrick Patrikios (YouTube Music Library)
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