Jetstar has launched its first direct flights from Sydney to Port Vila, Vanuatu, offering up to four weekly services and connecting travellers to the South Pacific Island nation with more than 80,000 seats annually.
Newsroom.com reports that the new route will be serviced by the airline’s fleet of fuel-efficient Airbus A321neo LRs. It follows the collapse of Air Vanuatu earlier this year, which left a gap in air travel to the region that Qantas and Jetstar have swiftly moved to fill.
“Getting to this Pacific Island paradise is now easier and more affordable than ever with Jetstar offering the only direct flights from Sydney,” Jetstar Executive Manager, Customer Jenn Armor said.
Adela Issachar Aru, CEO of the Vanuatu Tourism Office, welcomed the new service.
“This new direct service from Sydney makes travel to Vanuatu more accessible and affordable. With connections through Jetstar’s broader Australia domestic network, it’s never been easier for Australians to travel,” she said.
This new service continues Jetstar’s expansion in the Pacific region, following the successful launch of flights from Sydney to Rarotonga in the Cook Islands, and from Melbourne to Fiji in recent years.
Qantas inaugurates direct Brisbane-Palau flights
Qantas Airlines marked a milestone Saturday night with the arrival of its inaugural direct flight from Brisbane to Palau, greeted by a water cannon salute at Roman Tmetuchl International Airport.
The Island Times reports Palau Visitors Authority Managing Director Kadoi Ruluked as welcoming the new service, emphasising the airline’s potential to expand Palau’s reach to the Australian market and beyond.
“We are very excited with the arrival of Qantas,” said Ruluked. “This partnership is expected to open Palau to a broader Australian audience through Qantas’ extensive network and provide alternative connections to global markets.”
Ruluked highlighted the benefits of Qantas’ membership in the OneWorld alliance, which connects travelers to destinations worldwide, including routes from the U.S. west coast to Australia and Palau.
The service, dubbed the “Palau Paradise Express,” is part of a contract awarded by the Australian government aimed at boosting trade, tourism, and cultural ties between Australia and Palau.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace expressed enthusiasm for the new route, noting strong interest from travelers.
“When we first announced the ‘Palau Paradise Express’ in October, we saw an immediate surge in searches for Palau, highlighting the demand for unique, less-explored destinations,” Wallace said in a statement. “Australians are always seeking new holiday experiences, and we’re thrilled to connect them to Palau through this exciting new route.”
The flights are once a week, departing Brisbane each Saturday, arriving same day in Palau.