Qantas is extending its “Palau Paradise Express” service connecting Brisbane, Australia and Koror – the capital of the Western Pacific island nation of Palau - for another year.
Qantas is extending its “Palau Paradise Express” service connecting Brisbane, Australia and Koror – the capital of the Western Pacific island nation of Palau - for another year.
Citing strong market demand and significant growth in Australian tourist arrivals to Palau since the launch of the Brisbane-Palau service in December 2024, the Mascot, Australia-based Qantas will extend the once-weekly flights on the route.
Qantas operates the once-weekly (every Saturday) Brisbane-Palau service using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The service was launched as part of a contract awarded to the airline by the Australian Federal government to help maintain strong trade, tourism, and people-to-people links between Australia and Palau.
Palau Paradise Express and Palau's Tourism Industry
Comprised of over 300 islands, Palau – located in the Western Pacific – is known for its natural attractions including the UNESCO World Heritage listed Rock Islands. The islands are also a popular diving destination.
According to Qantas and the Palau Visitors Authority, the island nation saw a 113% increase in visitor arrivals during the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period last year. In March, year-on-year visitor arrivals from Australia increased by 146%. 75% of Australians who arrived in Palau last were visiting for the first time.
In a statement, Qantas CEO International Cam Wallace said: “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.”
Wallace added: “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.”
Speaking on the economic impact for Palau following the introduction of Qantas' flights to Palau last December, Kadoi Ruluked, Director of the Palau Visitors Authority said: “Australian travellers have really embraced the Qantas route, with many visiting Palau for the first time to explore our spectacular dive sites. 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,” Ruluked added.
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