Qantas will operate two weekly return flights between Brisbane and Koror, Palau, over the peak season from December 2026, doubling its current service after signing a new agreement with the Federal Government to continue operating the Palau Paradise Express.
The additional weekly service gives travellers the option of a four-day trip to Palau for the first time. It will run from December 2026 to the end of March 2027, departing Brisbane on Wednesday and Saturday and returning from Koror on Thursday and Sunday, operated by a Boeing 737-800 with a flight time of around six hours.
Passenger numbers have quadrupled since 2024 launch
Qantas launched the Palau Paradise Express with one weekly flight in December 2024. The service has carried more than 15,400 passengers since then, quadrupling passenger traffic to Palau from Australia and Oceania compared with pre-COVID levels.
Cam Wallace, Qantas CEO International, said the second service responded to strong demand. “Palau has been one of the standout destinations in our short-haul international network since 2024, and the extra service is a direct response to growing demand for these incredible islands. Two services a week give Australians more choice about how long they spend in Palau. You can now fly out on a Wednesday, get four days on the reef and be home by Sunday,” Wallace said.
Kadoi Ruluked, director of the Palau Visitors Authority, said Australian visitation during peak periods had grown 107 per cent year on year since Qantas took over the route in 2024. “This added seasonal frequency will build on that momentum by giving travellers the flexibility to enjoy a shorter Palau getaway for the first time,” Ruluked said.
Destination details
Palau comprises more than 300 islands in the Western Pacific, known for the UNESCO-listed Rock Islands, wreck dives, reef walls and jellyfish lakes. Much of its surrounding waters are protected as a marine sanctuary. Connections are available across the Qantas domestic network.
