Qantas customers travelling between Australia and Papua New Guinea can now take advantage of a new direct connection between the two countries.

The national carrier this week (Apr 2) launched its inaugural service from Sydney to Port Moresby, the airline’s first commercial passenger flight between the two cities in more than five decades.

Two return flights will operate each week with the airline’s Boeing 737 aircraft, adding more than 36,000 seats on the route each year. The flights add to Qantas’ existing daily Brisbane-Port Moresby service.

Qantas International CEO, Cam Wallace, said the new route would help strengthen the deep ties between the two countries.

“These flights will meet the growing demand from the business community for travel between Australia and Papua New Guinea,” he said.

“Our new Sydney service will save customers at least three hours in travel time on return trip by avoiding a stopover in Brisbane.”