Overview:
Qantas will add a second weekly flight between Brisbane and Palau starting Dec. 2, expanding travel options as Australian visitor arrivals to Palau increased 55% from January to September compared with the same period last year.
By L.N. Reklai
KOROR, Palau (Nov. 5, 2026) — Qantas will add a second weekly flight between Brisbane, Australia, and Palau starting Dec. 2, 2026, expanding travel options as the number of Australian visitors to Palau continues to grow.
Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngirai Tmetuchl announced the additional service, which will depart Brisbane on Wednesdays, arriving in Palau, and return to Brisbane on Thursdays.
The additional flight will increase Qantas’ direct service between Australia and Palau from once to twice a week. The airline currently arrives in Palau on Saturdays and departs on Sundays.
Tmetuchl said the additional service will give Australian travelers more flexibility in planning their visits, allowing them to spend either four or six days in Palau, depending on their travel preferences.
The expanded service comes as the Australian visitor market records significant growth. From January through September 2026, Palau welcomed 3,099 visitors from Australia, a 55% increase from the 1,998 recorded during the same period in 2025.
According to the Palau Visitors Authority’s September 2026 report, Australia was among the fastest-growing visitor markets for Palau during the first nine months of the year.
Japan recorded the strongest percentage growth among the major markets, increasing 86% to 9,222 visitors. Australia followed with 55% growth, while South Korea increased 53% to 980 visitors and China grew 35% to 22,671 visitors.
China remained Palau’s largest source of visitors, accounting for 35% of total arrivals. Taiwan was the second-largest market, with 10,746 visitors, representing 17% of arrivals and a 4% increase from the previous year.
Other markets also recorded growth. Europe increased 16% to 4,159 visitors, while the Others category rose 7% to 4,442 visitors. Arrivals from the United States and Canada increased 2% to 8,629 visitors, accounting for 13% of total arrivals.
The Visitors Authority reported positive year-on-year growth across all regional markets through September, reflecting continued recovery and a more diversified visitor base.
While China continues to lead in total visitor numbers, the strong growth from Japan, Australia and South Korea is helping broaden Palau’s tourism markets.
The authority said maintaining this growth through the fourth quarter while supporting sustainable destination management will be important to the long-term health of Palau’s tourism industry.