Direct flights between Brisbane, Australia, and Palau are set to launch on May 21st, 2024, operated by Nauru Airlines under the name “Palau Paradise Express.” This new route is expected to significantly boost tourism and trade opportunities between the two regions.
The flights will depart Brisbane on Tuesdays at 11:30 p.m. and arrive in Palau at 4:30 a.m. The return flights will leave Palau on Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. and land in Brisbane at 5:30 a.m.
“We are grateful for Australia’s strong partnership and efforts to promote tourism and trade, capitalizing on existing government, business, and community linkages,” said Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. regarding the new service.
Australian Senator Penny Wong echoed this sentiment, stating, “Australia has heard the calls from Pacific leaders for deeper connections and easier movement around the region, and we are working to improve access, mobility, and migration opportunities.” “Thanks to President Whipps’s strong support, we can take this important step towards strengthening economic growth in the region,” Wong added.
Nauru Airlines CEO Brett Gebers expressed his excitement about the new route, highlighting its potential to “open new opportunities for tourism, cargo, and commerce.”
This direct connection complements the existing “Island Hopper” service linking Brisbane with Nauru, Tarawa, Majuro, Pohnpei, and Koror, providing another convenient option for travel and business between Australia and the North Pacific.
President Whipps, in an interview with ABC Radio Australia, emphasized the potential of these flights to diversify Palau’s tourism sector, stating, “Australians are adventurous; they care for the environment, and Palau, with its pristine environment and unique culture, has something to offer them.”
Nauru Airlines will operate the route until October 31, 2024. A limited tender has been issued to find a permanent carrier to operate the route through October 2025, open to eligible airlines from Australia, the Pacific, and Asia.
The previous service, operated by Air Niugini and connecting Brisbane, Port Moresby, and Palau, ended on May 1st, 2024, due to low passenger numbers.
These new flights are made possible through the Australian Government’s Australia-Pacific Partnerships for Aviation Program (P4), which aims to create a safer, more resilient, and sustainable aviation sector in the Pacific region, ultimately improving people-to-people connections and supporting economic growth.