The Australian Government has extended its support to Nauru Airlines until October 2025 as the national carrier builds its Australia-North Pacific Connector route.
Since 2022, Nauru Airlines has been running its weekly flight service, connecting the 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,” 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.
“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.