From then, every state and territory will be directly linked to Canberra.

According to Canberra Airport aviation manager Matthew Brown, being able to do away with Sydney, Brisbane or Adelaide stopovers meant a journey to Darwin that could take as long as 10 hours would be much shorter.

The direct flight would take about four and a half hours.

''There is an existing market of travellers, but this opens up a whole new leisure market,'' he said.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation Andrew Barr said the service would bring visitors to Canberra ''from the top, non-stop''.

He hailed the news as beneficial for local tourism operators and the 13,000 Canberrans employed in the industry.

Mr Barr said the flights put Asian markets that used Darwin as a gateway to Australia's north within easy reach of Canberra.

Marketing manager of Australian Capital Tourism Ian Hill said the new services showed Canberra was thriving. While the Northern Territory was a small market, the new service was well timed should people of Darwin wish to see National Gallery of Australia exhibition Masterpieces from Paris: Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cezanne and Beyond, which will be in Canberra from December 4 to April 5.