Qantas has today announced the return of flights between Sydney and Port Moresby, with the service timed to support growing travel as Papua New Guinea prepares to enter Australia’s premier rugby league competition.

The service will operate twice per week from March 2026* on the airline’s Boeing 737 aircraft, adding almost 35,000 seats annually to Papua New Guinea and complementing Qantas' existing daily Brisbane-Port Moresby flights.

The route will support increased travel in both directions, providing additional capacity for the sporting and leisure traffic expected between the two cities.

The route also supports growing business travel between the two countries, providing a direct link to Sydney and onward connections to Qantas' domestic network across Australia and New Zealand.

The Sydney-Port Moresby service is being restored in response to expected demand driven by PNG's entry into Australia’s premier rugby league competition and continued growth in business and leisure travel, following a temporary suspension earlier this year.

Comments from Qantas CEO International Cam Wallace:

"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 in 2028.

"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.”

Comments from The Hon. Matt Thistlethwaite MP, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs:

“The Australian Government welcomes Qantas’ decision to reconnect Sydney and Port Moresby, strengthening the links between our two countries as PNG prepares to enter the NRL in 2028.

“These new flights will bring our communities even closer together making it easier for fans, families, businesses and students to travel, share experiences and support PNG’s NRL team on home and away soil.”

Comments from Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton:​

“Qantas’ return to the Sydney–Port Moresby 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.

“From supporting tourism and business travel to enhancing people-to-people connections, the reinstatement of this route is a positive step for both countries.”

Key Route Information and History

• The route will operate year-round on a Boeing 737 aircraft twice per week.

• Sydney – Port Moresby will operate as QF203/204 on Mondays and Fridays.

• Qantas has operated to Papua New Guinea since the 1940s with two light aircraft stationed in Lae for local operations.

• Qantas’ four engine DC4 Skymaster began flying the Sydney – Port Moresby – Lae route in 1950 and in 1959, Port Moresby was used as a refueling point for Qantas flights to Hong Kong.

Imagery and vision available here.