By aviation writer Scott Mayman

Qantas was showing off its first Airbus A321 jet by flying at a lower level over Crookwell and Taralga as it arrived in Sydney on Wednesday morning.

The plane flew direct from Bangkok and, Qantas says, is roomier for passengers, more fuel efficient and can fly longer distances.

The Airbus fleet will eventually replace all the Qantas Boeing 737 jets.

Meanwhile, direct flights linking Canberra with Darwin are due to resume on Sunday.

Qantas stopped the service last year, but more recently announced plans to recommence the flights.

An Embraer 190 jet aircraft will service the connection with Darwin, which was originally planned for June, but was delayed until Sunday.