The Australian-backed “North Pacific Connector” service of Nauru Airlines (RON, Nauru) has ended without a successor operator being selected, although Australia continues to evaluate bids for the next phase of the subsidised service.
The Naoero government referred to the “recent termination of the Australian North Pacific Connector” in an August 11 statement announcing a new aviation memorandum of understanding with the Federated States of Micronesia.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) continues to list the replacement tender, which closed on April 14, as being under evaluation. It seeks an operator for a weekly service linking Australia with Nauru, Tarawa, Majuro, Pohnpei, and Koror, with capacity for at least 75 passengers and 1,000 kilogrammes of cargo on each sector.
The initial contract would run for 24 months, with an option for another 24 months, and the successful operator would have up to 180 days after reaching an agreement with DFAT to launch.
Nauru Airlines previously received a 12-month extension from Australia until October 2025, followed by a short-term bridging contract that ran until late June 2026. After that expired, the carrier dropped its scheduled flights to Pohnpei and Koror on July 2. Its weekly B737-300 route now operates a scaled-back line from Brisbane International to Majuro via Nauru and Tarawa.
The governments of Nauru and Micronesia signed an agreement on July 29 to boost commercial aviation tie-ups and focus on re-establishing flights between Majuro and Pohnpei.
