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Qantas is restarting services between Sydney and Port Moresby next year, bringing more competition on the NSW–Papua New Guinea route.
The Flying Kangaroo will operate two 737 services per week from Sydney to Port Moresby starting in March, adding around 35,000 seats per year and complementing existing Brisbane–Port Moresby flights. It comes ahead of the entry of the Papua New Guinea Chiefs to the NRL in 2028.
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“We’re seeing growth in business travel between Sydney and Port Moresby and that’s building further as PNG ramps up preparations for Australia’s premier rugby league competition,” Cam Wallace, chief executive of Qantas International, said.
“The preparation work alone is generating travel, and once the team starts playing and fans and teams are travelling for matches, we expect that to increase significantly.
“It’s great to have this service back and give customers more options. Combined with our daily Brisbane service, PNG has great connections to Australia’s two largest cities and access to our broader network.”
Currently, PNG national carrier Air Niugini is the only airline flying between Sydney and Port Moresby. According to Scott Charlton, CEO of Sydney Airport, the re-entry of Qantas on the route is “great news for passengers and the broader community”.
“This renewed connection gives passengers greater choice and convenience across the region, while also strengthening the important economic and cultural ties between Australia and Papua New Guinea,” he said.
“From supporting tourism and business travel to enhancing people-to-people connections, the reinstatement of this route is a positive step for both countries.”
Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the Qantas service will add competition to a “very important destination”.
“We know we have Air Niugini that do flights to Port Moresby, but now we’ll have Qantas on that route as well, meaning that there’ll be increased competition for consumers that will hopefully bring down and make fares more competitive,” he said.
“If you follow the Rabbitohs or Parramatta or the Bulldogs, you’ll be able to take off here from Sydney Airport, travel up to Port Moresby to watch your team take on the Chiefs, and who knows, perhaps tack on a couple of days of a holiday in one of the most beautiful destinations in the Pacific.
“[It’s] a great way to see your NRL team and to build stronger relations between Australia and our nearest neighbour, Papua New Guinea.”
Qantas has operated flights between Australia and Papua New Guinea since the 1940s.
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