Quick summary
Qantas adds a second weekly Brisbane–Koror flight, QF165/166, from 2 December 2026, running to the end of March 2027. The peak-season timetable leaves Brisbane on Wednesdays and Saturdays and returns from Koror on Thursdays and Sundays, on a Boeing 737-800, about six hours each way.
Outside that window the Palau Paradise Express stays weekly, and the route is committed until at least November 2027. What the schedule, the entry rules and the growth numbers mean for a Palau trip.
Qantas’ second weekly Brisbane–Koror rotation, QF165/166, begins on 2 December 2026, doubling the Palau Paradise Express for the peak season.
For anyone searching flights to Palau from Brisbane, the change is about time, not just seats. Palau can become a four-night destination without touching a second week of leave. The extra flight changes how the trip fits into a working week. But that flexibility lasts only through the peak-season window.
The second rotation also comes as visitor numbers rise. The service has carried more than 15,400 passengers, and visitation from Australia and Oceania has quadrupled since its launch, according to Travel Monitor.
What changes on Brisbane–Palau flights
The extra flight is seasonal, not year-round. Qantas flies Brisbane–Koror twice a week instead of once until the end of March 2027, when the timetable reverts, according to Travel Weekly and the AeroRoutes schedule filing of 5 September 2026.
The days matter more than the frequency. Brisbane departures move to Wednesdays and Saturdays, Koror departures to Thursdays and Sundays. Both rotations use a Boeing 737-800. Each flight takes about six hours.
Travelers who last looked at this route may still be working from an older picture. The second weekly rotation changes how much time they can spend in Palau within a week of leave.
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The current Brisbane–Palau schedule
Qantas has operated the Palau Paradise Express since December 2024. Before the extra rotation begins, the service runs once a week: Brisbane to Koror on Saturdays, Koror to Brisbane on Sundays. Qantas extended the service through December 2026. Reporting in late September 2026 put the route as committed until at least November 2027.
Palau’s scheduled flights all land at one airport. Koror’s Palau International Airport is the country’s only gateway with scheduled passenger service, and in August seven airports in seven countries had direct flights into it. Qantas publishes the timetable on its own Brisbane–Koror route page.
Outside the December-to-March peak, the calendar offers less room to move. Saturday is the only direct Brisbane departure on offer.
Palau entry and arrival essentials
Palau asks every visitor to sign the Palau Pledge. Travelers watch a short video on the inbound flight; a Palau Pledge Passport stamp is optional.
Entry itself is straightforward for most nationalities. Visa on arrival is available for most countries for stays of up to 30 days, extendable twice for a fee, as of 30 November 2023.
COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required.
That change took effect on 25 April 2023. Every traveler must still complete the Palau Entry Form before arrival.
Why the route is expanding
The growth extends beyond passengers on the Brisbane service. Australian arrivals for January to July 2026 were 68% higher than a year earlier, the Australia Pacific Islands Business Council reports.
The Australian and Palauan governments subsidize the route to build tourism. The stated aim is to diversify Palau’s visitor base beyond its traditional Asian markets. The added capacity comes after nearly two years of weekly service. Qantas announced the route in 2024 as the Palau Paradise Express.
The route’s commitment and the extra flight’s future are separate questions. The longer commitment does not yet settle whether the peak-season frequency will last.
What the new rotation means for your trip
The choice of rotation rests on how much leave you have and when you can depart. Book the direct Brisbane–Koror flight first, then fit any domestic connection to Brisbane around Qantas’ published days.
Travelers with one week of leave. Check Qantas’ published days before booking the international leg, because the extra flight is seasonal. The shorter pairing is less suited to travelers who want a longer stay. Wednesday to Sunday is the shortest version of the trip the timetable allows.
Business and government travelers. The Australia Pacific Islands Business Council describes the extra rotation as a flexibility gain for business travellers and government delegations. A shorter stay becomes possible without waiting for the next Saturday. The available departure days still limit which itineraries fit.
First-time visitors. For a short trip, the entry form is the only task that belongs before departure: complete it online, then sign the pledge at immigration on arrival. Travelers should confirm the current visa position with Palau Immigration before booking. Those planning to stay beyond the visa-on-arrival limit need an extension rather than arrival formalities alone.
The next date to watch is the end of the peak-season timetable in March 2027.
Reporting by
Questions? Answers.
What days do Qantas fly from Brisbane to Palau?
From 2 December 2026 to the end of March 2027, Qantas departs Brisbane for Koror on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with returns from Koror on Thursdays and Sundays. Outside that peak-season window the service drops back to a single weekly rotation: Brisbane on Saturdays, Koror on Sundays.
Is there a direct flight from Australia to Palau?
Yes. Qantas flies direct between Brisbane and Koror, Palau’s only airport with scheduled passenger service, on a Boeing 737-800. The route launched in December 2024 and is committed until at least November 2027.
What airlines fly direct to Palau?
Qantas is the carrier on the Brisbane route. In August, seven airlines flew direct to Palau from seven airports in seven countries, with United Airlines and China Airlines operating about 65% of those flights between them; Cambodia Airways was the only low-cost carrier.
Which airports fly direct to Palau?
All scheduled services land at Koror’s Palau International Airport, the country’s only airport with scheduled passenger flights. In August, seven airports in seven countries had direct flights there, and Koror is the only Palau airport with business-class service.
Do I need a visa for Palau?
Most nationalities receive a visa on arrival for stays of up to 30 days, extendable twice for a fee, as of 30 November 2023. COVID-19 vaccination is no longer required, a change that took effect on 25 April 2023, but the Palau Entry Form must be completed before arrival.
How long is the flight from Brisbane to Palau?
Qantas schedules about six hours each way between Brisbane and Koror, and one listing gives 6h10m for the sector. It is a single hop with no connection en route.
