TRAVEL to Timor-Leste becomes easier with the introduction of Aero Dili’s direct flights between Dili and Darwin.
The new service strengthens the country’s aviation network and deepens ties with one of its key visitor markets.
The route began earlier this month and will operate twice a week (Sundays and Tuesdays), with a flight time of about one hour and 15 minutes. It adds to the existing direct services operated by Qantas and Air North, taking the total number of direct flights between Timor-Leste and Australia to 12 a week.
Officials said the new connection is expected to make travel easier for leisure visitors, business travellers, diaspora communities and government, trade and education partners moving across the Timor Sea.
“We congratulate Aero Dili on this milestone,” said Antonio da Silva, Director General of Tourism for the Ministry of Tourism and Environment in Timor-Leste.
“This new direct Darwin–Dili service is an important step forward for Timor-Leste’s tourism sector.”
He said Australia remains a priority market for Timor-Leste tourism, with Darwin and the Northern Territory acting as a natural entry point for short breaks, adventure travel, diving, culture and business.
Aero Dili, Timor-Leste’s national carrier, is based in Dili and operates from Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport.
Founded in 2018, the airline flies Airbus aircraft and has been expanding its international network to support tourism, trade and regional engagement.
Darwin is Aero Dili’s first destination in Australia. The airline also serves Bali, Singapore, Malaysia and China, and plans to begin a Dili–Melbourne service in November 2026.
The government said the new route should create more opportunities for tourism operators, hotels, cultural attractions and local communities across Timor-Leste.
