The government of Nauru has welcomed the outcomes of the inaugural North Pacific Aviation Summit in Canberra, agreeing on practical steps to strengthen vital air links across the North Pacific.
The summit underscored Nauru’s role in operating the North Pacific Connector (NPC) service, a regional air corridor linking Australia with several North Pacific states, and highlighted strong backing from regional partners and Australia to secure its long-term commercial sustainability.
Operated by Nauru Airlines, the NPC connects Brisbane with destinations across Micronesia, including Nauru, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. The service was established to address longstanding connectivity gaps in a region characterised by small, dispersed populations and commercially challenging aviation routes.
The NPC has carried more than 55,000 passengers and 800 tonnes of freight, supporting essential travel, cargo movement and access to services, while strengthening social, cultural and economic ties between Australia and the North Pacific.
Partner governments committed to a range of measures to improve the route’s viability, including fee waivers, expanded access to night-time landings, increased use of the NPC by government officials and closer alignment of aviation and tourism policies to support demand.
These measures reflect a broader recognition that aviation in the North Pacific operates under structural constraints, including high operating costs, limited infrastructure and thin passenger volumes, requiring coordinated government support to remain viable.
Minister for Transport Maverick Eoe Appi has described the NPC as a “lifeline” for communities and economies, highlighting its role in enabling medical travel, government services, trade and regional mobility. He also expressed pride in Nauru’s role in operating the service on behalf of the region.
Australia’s role as a key partner was also highlighted, with the summit reflecting wider regional cooperation efforts to strengthen connectivity, economic integration and resilience across Pacific island countries.
Next steps include written commitments from participating governments by 6 May and a virtual follow-up meeting by mid-May, with joint work on a long-term sustainability framework for the NPC to continue over the next two years.
The summit signals a shift toward a more coordinated, multi-government approach to supporting regional aviation, positioning the NPC as a critical transport link rather than a purely commercial service.
