Nauru Airlines 'Delighted' To Be Awarded Targeted Support For The 'Australia' North Pacific Connector' Route

Nauru Airlines 'Delighted' To Be Awarded Targeted Support For The 'Australia' North Pacific Connector' Route

Nauru Airlines has been awarded a new agreement with the Australian Government, offering targeted support for an additional 12 months, until 31 October 2025, as the airline builds the sustainability of its ‘Australia-North Pacific Connector’ route.

The national carrier of the Republic of Nauru commenced the weekly service in October 2022, providing essential air links connecting northern and central Pacific countries to key destinations in Australia, Asia, and Fiji. The weekly flight departs from Brisbane via Nauru, Tarawa, Majuro and Pohnpei to Palau.

“Micronesia and the central and northern Pacific is Nauru Airline’s home, and the airline has been connecting the Islands of the Pacific, and the people of the Pacific with Australia for over 53 years,” said Nauru Airlines CEO Brett Gebers.

Nauru Airlines commenced regular island hopper services over 12 years ago, connecting Brisbane to Nauru and on to Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. The service paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and was recommenced, in October 2022 as the ‘Australia-North Pacific Connector’ under Australia’s Pacific Flights Program.

In December last year, Nauru Airlines extended the Australia-North Pacific Connector onwards to Palau.

“Air services that connect Pacific Islands countries with an important partner like Australia, are crucial to the economic development of the region. They deliver far more than visitors and tourists, also enabling trade and new business and commercial opportunities,” Mr Gebers said.

“We are grateful that the Australian government recognises this and is partnering with us to support these essential flights,” he added.

Meanwhile, Nauru Airlines will conclude operating a weekly Brisbane-Palau direct route this month following completion of the airline’s contract to establish the route. Nauru’s national carrier established and launched the Palau Paradise Express on 21 May 2024 at the request of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, to open a new direct air service linking Australia and Palau.

“We were pleased to accede to the request, and to be entrusted by DFAT to establish the route,” Mr Gebers said.

“The successful introduction of direct Brisbane-Palau flights is also thanks to our partners and suppliers for helping us to deliver the service in record time,” he added.

“As our contract comes to an end, we are delighted that national carrier Qantas will now take over operating the route next month and we look forward to working with Qantas to manage a seamless transition with minimal disruption to passengers,” he said.

Both the ‘Palau Paradise Express’ and the ‘Australia-North Pacific Connector’ services are enabled by the Australia-Pacific Partnerships for Aviation (P4A) program. P4A is an Australian Government initiative partnering with Pacific countries for a safer, more resilient and sustainable aviation sector, improving people-to-people links and supporting economic growth.

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