New route off to flyer

Travellers can say goodbye to red eye flights with a new direct daylight return service between Melbourne and Darwin.

Fares will start at $89 to Melbourne and $189 to Singapore. The new flights will see an extra 250,000 seats coming through Darwin every year.

Jetstar general manager Unni Menon said Darwin had the potential to play a "very critical part'' in the company's expansion into the Asia-Pacific region.

"We're here for the long term. This is a deliberate strategy on our part,'' he said.

"This is not a here today, gone tomorrow scenario.''

He said the company had plans of "hubbing'' in Darwin by bringing domestic flights to the Top End and seamlessly connecting overseas.

The Darwin hub could see up to seven aircraft and 250 staff and their families based in the Top End.

But Mr Menon said Jetstar was still in negotiations with the Territory Government and Darwin Airport to bring the extra flights to the Top End.

I'm hoping these discussions will be finalised in the very near future,'' he said.

"It's just a series of issues we need to work through. Governments have due processes and we respect that.''

Mr Menon said Darwin Airport officials indicated they would consider "incremental expansion'' to the terminal.

Chief Minister Paul Henderson welcomed more competition in the marketplace.

"Now mum and dad can go to Melbourne for the weekend -- dad to go to the footy, mum to go shopping and you don't have to catch the red eye,'' he said.

Mr Henderson said the new flights would open Darwin to Asia and Europe.

He said Darwin's proximity to Jetstar's Asian customer base was a great competitive advantage.