iscover
Qantas is extending its “Palau Paradise Express” services for another 12 months due to high demand.
The weekly 737 flights, which depart Brisbane on Saturdays and return from Koror on Sundays, began in December last year, with Qantas taking over from Nauru Airlines under contract with the Australian government.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
“We’re thrilled to announce the renewal of our direct Palau service. It has been incredibly rewarding to see so many Australians discovering this destination for the first time since we launched the route, and the response has been phenomenal,” Qantas International chief executive Cam Wallace said.
“It’s also great to see the significant rise in visitor arrivals to Palau, with Aussie travellers being a driving force behind this remarkable result. This strong demand reinforces our commitment to connecting Australians with unique destinations and supporting Palau’s growing tourism industry.”
Palau, which is part of Micronesia and lies north of Papua New Guinea and east of the Philippines, has seen Australian travellers increase by 113 per cent year on year in the first six months of 2025.
“Palau has transformed from a little-known island nation into one of the most talked-about destinations among Australians in 2025. March and April saw the highest year-on-year growth in Australian arrivals, with March alone increasing by 146 per cent, reflecting a growing curiosity to explore this remote and pristine corner of Micronesia,” Qantas said in a press release.
According to the director of Palau Visitors Authority, Kadoi Ruluked, the route has “already delivered strong results for the country’s tourism economy”.
“Australian travellers have really embraced the Qantas route, with many visiting Palau for the first time to explore our spectacular dive sites,” he said.
“Local tour operators are already seeing the benefits, with strong interest across a range of experiences from traditional sailing tours around the Rock Islands to WWII history adventures on Peleliu.
“The continuation of this route is a vital step in supporting our tourism sector’s long-term growth. We’re proud to continue our partnership with Qantas to make Palau more accessible to Australian travellers and cement our country as a destination on the rise.”
Palau is approximately six hours from Australia by plane, and comprises around 300 islands.
