Qantas Airlines has revealed plans to launch a fresh international route, marking the carrier's return to a route it hasn't serviced in almost five decades.
This new offering, connecting Sydney with Papua New Guinea's Port Moresby, will run two return flights weekly, supplementing the existing service from Brisbane.
"These flights will meet the growing demand from the business community for travel between Australia and Papua New Guinea," stated Mr. Wallace.
"Our new Sydney service will save customers at least three hours in travel time on return trip by avoiding a stopover in Brisbane."
Papua New Guinea, though trailing behind popular destinations such as Fiji, Bali, and New Zealand in terms of Australian tourist footfall, is steadily gaining traction. This growth can be largely attributed to its possession of the world's third-largest rainforest, pristine waters, and extensive coral reefs.
In 2019, fewer than 80,000 individuals visited PNG; however, with increasing tourism, accommodation options are expanding.
Earlier this year, Marriott International disclosed plans to extend their lodging services into Papua New Guinea, catering to those desiring an "extended stay."
The hotel boasts 88 contemporary apartments ranging from one-bedroom suites to two-bedroom penthouses, each furnished with upscale amenities, separate living spaces, fully-equipped kitchens, and in-room laundry facilities.
“We are thrilled to establish our inaugural foothold in Papua New Guinea with this milestone opening” stated Sean Hunt, Area Vice President of Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific for Marriott International.
"This is also a debut for the Marriott Executive Apartments brand in the region, allowing us to diversify our offering to cater to ambitious and adventurous travellers who seek a premium, trusted extended-stay experience."
Papua New Guinea currently holds travel advisories, with SmartTraveller advising visitors to exercise caution due to prevalent serious crimes, particularly in certain areas.
"Instances of protests and civil unrest can escalate rapidly," notes the advisory.
"Stay clear of areas where violence is known to occur and be vigilant regarding personal safety risks."
This route is the latest addition to Qantas' expanding international network from Sydney, with the airline anticipating it will bolster business and trade links between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Additionally, Jetstar, a subsidiary of the Qantas Group, has unveiled the revival of a popular route connecting Sydney and Japan this week.
The reestablished route, operating between Sydney and Osaka (Kansai), marked its inaugural flight on Tuesday, marking Jetstar's return to this route after a 15-year hiatus.
"Australians’ love for Japan continues to grow and the strength of the Australian dollar against the Yen means it’s incredibly affordable right now,," commented Jenn Armor, Jetstar's Executive Manager of Customer Relations.
"This is the third direct service we’ve launched from Australia to Japan in the last six months and the second to Osaka, with strong demand for our existing flights."
Prices for the Sydney to Osaka route, Japan's second-largest city after Tokyo, will start from a mere $363. The service will operate three return flights weekly aboard the Boeing 787 Dreamliners.