The “Palau Paradise Express” service, which Qantas began operating in 2024, will increase to two weekly flights from Brisbane starting in December. The route has carried more than 15,400 passengers since its launch, quadrupling pre-COVID traffic to Palau from Australia and Oceania.

VH-A5C landed in Western Sydney shortly after 9:15am following a test flight from Melbourne, marking another significant milestone for the new airport ahead of its full opening next month. Jetstar will operate the inaugural flight from WSI to the Gold Coast on 25 October.

The seasonal service, which recommences on 27 October and runs three times per week until 24 April 2027, will increase by 6,000 seats to 28,000, up 27 per cent on its inaugural season.

More than 600 workers at Qantas Ground Services could down tools in coming weeks after 97 per cent approved a protected action ballot order filed by the Transport Workers’ Union earlier in August, saying pay, safety and conditions have dropped to “rock-bottom levels”.