{"id":85641,"date":"2026-09-02T04:34:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-02T04:34:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/85641\/"},"modified":"2026-09-02T04:34:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T04:34:08","slug":"palau-qantas-increases-direct-flights-to-untouched-holiday-spot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/85641\/","title":{"rendered":"Palau: Qantas increases direct flights to \u2018untouched\u2019 holiday spot"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A tiny island nation in Micronesia is about to get more direct flights from Australia.<\/p>\n<p>This year, Australia became Palau\u2019s fastest-growing major tourism market. While the visitor numbers are still small, they are increasing quickly.<\/p>\n<p>The destination sits southwest of Guam and north of Indonesia, and is about a six-hour flight from Brisbane.<\/p>\n<p>On Wednesday it was announced Qantas would increase its weekly service between the Queensland capital and Koror (Palau\u2019s largest city) to twice a week services during the peak season, which is December through to the end of March.<\/p>\n<p>And the Aussie airline would continue flying there weekly through to at least November 30, 2027.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"poster-img\" src=\"https:\/\/content.api.news\/v3\/images\/bin\/cff448002b01acc75d1c4272a8e39fed\" data-sctrack=\"op-poster-img\" alt=\"Hidden paradise just six hours from Aus\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/p>\n<p>The non-stop flight between Australia and Palau is named the Palau Paradise Express and funded by the Australian Government.<\/p>\n<p>It first launched in May 2024 operated by Nauru Airlines before the contract was awarded to Qantas in December 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Qantas international CEO Cam Wallace said the second weekly flight was a direct response to \u201cgrowing demand\u201d. The airline has carried more than 15,400 passengers on the route so far.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwo services a week give Australians more choice about how long they spend in Palau,\u201d Mr Wallace said. \u201cYou can now fly out on a Wednesday, get four days on the reef and be home by Sunday.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Flights will depart Brisbane on Wednesday and Saturday, and return from Koror on Thursday and Sunday. <\/p>\n<p>But while Palau is excited to be getting Aussies\u2019 attention, it <a class=\"body-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.news.com.au\/national\/a-bit-of-a-secret-aussie-travellers-discover-untouched-holiday-spot\/news-story\/c70dd8d18962881a2d0bc70d922200b4\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"www.news.com.au\" data-tgev=\"event119\" data-tgev-container=\"bodylink\" data-tgev-order=\"c70dd8d18962881a2d0bc70d922200b4\" data-tgev-label=\"national\" data-tgev-metric=\"ev\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">doesn\u2019t want to be the next Bali<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Palau Visitors Authority managing director Kadoi Ruluked told news.com.au in July that Palau has no intention of becoming a mass tourism destination like other Aussie favourites, Indonesia, Thailand or Fiji.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat truly sets Palau apart is the Palau Pledge, every visitor signs it on arrival, a commitment stamped directly into their passport, promising to act in ecologically and culturally responsible way for the sake of our children and generations to come,\u201d Mr Ruluked explained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo other destination in the region asks that of its visitors by law. That commitment is backed by a deliberate choice not to be a mass tourism destination.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s untouched, stays untouched, giving travellers access to a natural world that\u2019s becoming harder to find elsewhere. Combined with warm Palauan hospitality, that is what makes Palau truly special.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"poster-img\" src=\"https:\/\/content.api.news\/v3\/images\/bin\/c107742bd848b6eaceeee9d34fd12ebe\" data-sctrack=\"op-poster-img\" alt=\"Surprising passport pledge for Palau visitors\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/p>\n<p>Flight Centre Travel Group global leisure CEO James Kavanagh also told news.com.au that Palau isn\u2019t a competitor to Bali or Thailand for the mass-market family or budget traveller.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s an alternative for a very specific niche: serious divers, marine life enthusiasts, and travellers who specifically want somewhere that\u2019s relatively untouched and undiscovered,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"body-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dailytelegraph.com.au\/entertainment\/competitions\/your-next-great-escape-could-be-on-us-win-one-of-eight-incredible-travel-prizes\/news-story\/2a81f0b81bb0ff2f47d4714c95c216af\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"www.dailytelegraph.com.au\" data-tgev=\"event119\" data-tgev-container=\"bodylink\" data-tgev-order=\"2a81f0b81bb0ff2f47d4714c95c216af\" data-tgev-label=\"entertainment\" data-tgev-metric=\"ev\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to vote for your favourite travel business and you could win one of 8 incredible travel prizes, worth over $45,000 in total!<\/p>\n<p>The nation is made up of over 300 coral and volcanic islands and is most popular among older Australians.<\/p>\n<p>About 30 per cent of Aussie visitors are aged 60 and over, and just over 20 per cent are aged in their 50s.<\/p>\n<p>Mr Ruluked said they tend to be adventurous, conservation-minded visitors who value nature, outdoor activities and genuine cultural connection.<\/p>\n<p>Expedia ranked Palau second on its \u20182026 Island Hot List\u2019 this year, only behind New Caledonia.<\/p>\n<p>Expedia travel expert Sarah King said the nation \u201cstill feels like a bit of a secret\u201d despite only being a six-hour flight away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPalau really hits the sweet spot for Aussies,\u201d Ms King said. \u201cFrom the iconic Rock Islands to the unforgettable experience of Jellyfish Lake, travellers can enjoy world-class scenery and adventure, with average accommodation rates of $300 per night.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Australian Government said the flights strengthened Palau\u2019s economy through tourism and business opportunities, contributing about $10 million to the country\u2019s economy in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Palau as a \u201cclose friend of Australia\u201d on Wednesday when announcing the government had extended its investment through to November 2027.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis announcement will allow more Australians to visit this stunning Pacific holiday destination and ensure connections between our countries grow even stronger,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Palau Paradise Express is a significant contributor to Palau\u2019s economy and this expansion will deliver a steady boost for tourism and business operators across the region.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Read related topics:<a class=\"topic_tag\" href=\"https:\/\/www.news.com.au\/topics\/qantas\" data-tgev-container=\"story-topic-links\" data-tgev-label=\"Qantas\" data-tgev-order=\"1\" data-tgev-metric=\"npv\" data-tgev=\"event10\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Qantas<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A tiny island nation in Micronesia is about to get more direct flights from Australia. This year, Australia&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":85642,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[141570,141574,42632,141619,141608,36911,5859,141564,141597,42915,141626,40777,141613,141134,36519,40457,38828,62136,141589,87330,141560,141618,136806,141593,141565,141629,141581,141638,141587,36956,141616,21187,141563,62135,58885,29420,22,141604,7245,23,141595,7458,21,141614,12718,141631,99,141566,36917,39008,141586,43089,141605,141621,51031,141590,141623,31723,48934,141602,31569,23956,141571,9546,75288,141645,141575,141594,141569,38590,141643,141599,3795,141576,141644,51364,141642,44211,38431,141584,100055,126746,141562,114233,102036,8566,141620,141615,37007,36518,47129,141585,141591,141641,65132,141577,141611,141637,141578,141636,141612,135138,141561,141601,2143,141582,141633,1981,141630,4859,19816,141632,141624,108937,51030,141600,48240,141567,38851,37024,38263,84709,23380,141609,141634,36847,141617,141568,141588,141640,141580,75230,61612,42948,58882,55310,141606,120493,141610,141603,141639,141598,60387,141572,141627,141579,39096,141583,41172,141607,141622,30103,138110,141573,141635,141592,141628,22441,141625,141596,141126],"class_list":["post-85641","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-australia","tag-2026-island-hot-list","tag-holiday-spot","tag-s-economy","tag-s-fastest-growing-major-tourism-market","tag-s-largest-city","tag-36911","tag-5859","tag-2025-prime-minister-anthony-albanese","tag-2027-pristine-waters","tag-42915","tag-400-passengers","tag-40777","tag-60-and","tag-8-incredible-travel-prizes","tag-a-bit","tag-a-close-friend","tag-a-commitment","tag-a-competitor","tag-a-deliberate-choice","tag-a-direct-response","tag-a-mass-tourism-destination","tag-a-natural-world","tag-a-secret","tag-a-significant-contributor","tag-a-six-hour-flight","tag-a-steady-boost","tag-a-tiny-island-nation","tag-a-very-specific-niche","tag-a-wednesday","tag-a-week","tag-about-10-million","tag-access","tag-adventurous","tag-an-alternative","tag-arrival","tag-attention","tag-au","tag-aussie-visitors","tag-aussies","tag-australia","tag-australia-and-palau","tag-australians","tag-austrlia","tag-average-accommodation-rates","tag-bali","tag-bali-or-thailand","tag-brisbane","tag-brisbane-on","tag-cent","tag-connections","tag-conservation-minded-visitors","tag-december","tag-december-2024-go","tag-desktopqantas-international-ceo-cam-wallace","tag-direct-flights","tag-ecologically-and-culturally-responsible-way","tag-every-visitor","tag-flights","tag-four-days","tag-genuine-cultural-connection-expedia","tag-goforit","tag-growing-demand","tag-guam-and-north","tag-indonesia","tag-island","tag-its-investment","tag-its-visitors","tag-its-weekly-service","tag-jellyfish-lake","tag-july","tag-just-over-20","tag-koror","tag-law","tag-march-and","tag-marine-life-enthusiasts","tag-may-2024","tag-micronesia","tag-more-australians","tag-more-choice","tag-more-direct-flights","tag-more-flights","tag-more-than-15","tag-mr-ruluked","tag-mr-wallace","tag-ms-king","tag-nature","tag-nauru-airlines","tag-new-caledonia-expedia-travel-expert-sarah-king","tag-news-com-au","tag-night","tag-no-intention","tag-no-other-destination","tag-non-stop-flight","tag-november-2027","tag-november-30","tag-older-australians-about","tag-other-aussie-favourites","tag-our-children-and-generations","tag-our-countries","tag-outdoor-activities","tag-over-300-coral-and-volcanic-islands","tag-palau","tag-palau-second","tag-palau-visitorsflight-centre-travel-group-global-leisure-ceo-james-kavanagh","tag-qantas","tag-quickly-the-destination","tag-serious-divers","tag-sharks","tag-shorter-getaways","tag-southwest","tag-sunday","tag-surprising-passport-pledge","tag-thailand-or-fiji","tag-that-commitment","tag-the-airline","tag-the-aussie-airline","tag-the-australian-government","tag-the-australian-government-it","tag-the-contract","tag-the-country","tag-the-end","tag-the-flights","tag-the-government","tag-the-iconic-rock-islands","tag-the-mass-market-family-or-budget-traveller","tag-the-nation","tag-the-next-bali-palau-visitors-authority-managing-director-kadoi-ruluked","tag-the-pacific-gem","tag-the-palau-paradise-express","tag-the-palau-pledge","tag-the-peak-season","tag-the-queensland-capital","tag-the-reef","tag-the-region","tag-the-route","tag-the-sake","tag-the-second-weekly-flight","tag-the-sweet-spot","tag-the-unforgettable-experience","tag-the-visitor-numbers","tag-their-50s-mr-ruluked","tag-their-passport","tag-this-announcement","tag-this-expansion","tag-this-stunning-pacific-holiday-destination","tag-this-tiny-island-nation","tag-this-year","tag-thursday-and-sunday","tag-total","tag-tourism-and-business-operators","tag-tourism-and-business-opportunities","tag-travellers","tag-turtles","tag-twice-a-week-services","tag-two-services","tag-vibrant-coral-reefs","tag-warm-palauan-hospitality","tag-wednesday","tag-wed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