Qantas (QF, Sydney Kingsford Smith) will continue operating the Australian government-backed service between Brisbane International and Koror, dubbed the “Palau Paradise Express”, through to November 30, 2027, while doubling frequencies during the upcoming peak season.
The Australian government announced the extension on September 2, 2026, with Qantas saying it had signed a new agreement with the federal government. Qantas International & Freight CEO Cam Wallace said that “the extra service is a direct response to growing demand for these incredible islands.”
The extension adds 12 months to Qantas’ existing Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) contract, which runs from December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2026. Australian procurement portal records value that agreement at AUD7.8 million Australian dollars (USD5.6 million) and show it was awarded through a limited tender.
From December 2026 to the end of March 2027, the route will increase from 1x to 2x weekly, with the additional service subject to government and regulatory approvals. Qantas will operate the seasonal second frequency with a B737-800.
The Australian-supported air link commenced in May 2024, initially operated by Nauru Airlines. Qantas took over the service in December 2024. The Australian government said the service had carried more than 15,400 passengers since its commencement and estimated that it contributed AUD10 million (USD7.2 million) to Palau’s economy in 2025.
Australia also subsidises the separate “North Pacific Connector”, which links Australia with Naoero, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau. As previously reported by ch-aviation, Nauru Airlines’ contract expired on June 30, 2026 without a successor having been selected, leading it to discontinue the Pohnpei and Koror sectors. The DFAT now says an evaluation of bids for a replacement operator has concluded and that a contract notice will be issued once negotiations are completed.
