KOROR, Palau — Air Nuigini has terminated its flights between Palau and Brisbane, Australia, citing low passenger numbers. The weekly service, which included a stopover in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, will cease operations on May 1, 2024.
The year-long route was part of the Australian government’s Pacific Flight Program, which subsidizes initial phases of new air links between Australia and Pacific Island nations. The program was extended beyond its original December end date in hopes of stimulating demand, but Air Nuigini said the market failed to grow sufficiently.
“We deeply regret the suspension of this service,” the airline said in a statement. “However, the current load factor is not commercially viable.”
The terminated route offered a faster connection between Palau and the South Pacific compared to existing options, which can take up to two days. The remaining direct flight between the North and South Pacific takes approximately 17 hours, while other connections involve routing through Asian countries.