In addition to more flights, for Darwin to serve as a strategic hub for Virgin and their partners there will need to be far better alignment of flights to enable through passage from southern states to SIngapore (and possibly elsewhere in Asia) using Darwin as a stepping stone/stop-over point. This would be much the same as Jetstar.
Perhaps Virgin could fill the void created by the impending departure of AirAsia on the Bali route? This could give Virgin the opportunity to fully utilise the capacity of its 737 operating from Sydney and Melbourne (and maybe Adelaide and Brisbane) to Bali by hubbing services in Darwin. Currently these direct flights, which are over six hours long, have weight restrictions because they stretch the flying capacity of the 737-800 to its limit.
Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines to build presence in Darwin
Steve Creedy, Aviation writer, The Australian, April 03, 2012
Describing Darwin as a strategic port and a stepping-stone to Asia, Virgin chief executive John Borghetti said the airlines would work to build up traffic with the aim of boosting international services from Darwin to daily.
He said the city had great potential in terms of the development and investment in the area and he believed that being able to access the territory without having to fly through the southern states was "a huge advantage".
He did not rule out Virgin flying its own planes internationally from the Northern Territory capital in conjunction with SilkAir.
"The point is that, hopefully, once we have the loads built we will look at making it daily jointly," he said. "But obviously we need to build the traffic."
The Australian airline now operates about 70 services a week, offering about 11,000 seats.
The Darwin services and flights to Alice Springs account for about 23 per cent of capacity into and out of the NT, compared with about 76 per cent held by the Qantas Group.
It is particularly keen to tap into high-end traffic generated by gas and resource developments in the NT and is building a 200-seat premium lounge due to open at Darwin Airport next year.
Mr Borghetti said the introduction of business class had seen premium fares fall 20 per cent in other areas and he believed the increased competition would have a similar impact in Darwin.
But he also said Darwin was becoming increasingly important as a tourist destination, not just from Asia but from other international and domestic destinations.
"The mix has changed," he said. "It is no longer an all-leisure destination. It has a growing business component to it."
NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson welcomed the increased competition the new Virgin service provided and said it would mean cheaper airfares for Territorians.