Overview:
Passenger demand on Qantas’ Brisbane–Palau route is soaring, prompting President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. to push for a second weekly flight. During talks with Qantas executives in Brisbane, Whipps highlighted the route’s rapid growth, praised a standout marketing partnership, and underscored how increased frequency could boost tourism, cargo movement and travel flexibility for visitors to Palau.
By: Laurel Marewibuel
KOROR, Palau — President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. huddled Tuesday with Qantas executives in Brisbane to celebrate booming traffic on the airline’s Brisbane-Palau route — and plot its next leap forward.
The service, running under Australia’s extended Palau Paradise Express program through November, has exploded from just 85 passengers in January 2025 to more than 300 a month now. Meeting with Qantas Regional Manager for Queensland, Palau and Papua New Guinea Anthony Penney and his team, Whipps spotlighted the route’s momentum while cheering upcoming cargo freight service.
“Greater frequency would give travelers more flexibility for shorter trips,” Whipps said, reiterating his strong backing for a second weekly flight.
Qantas officials praised the Palau Visitors Authority and its marketing partners, calling their promotional campaign for the route one of the airline’s best collaborations ever. Mark Tattersall, first assistant secretary in the Office of the Pacific, also joined the talks.