Norfolk Island Airlines (Norfolk Island) has announced it will be ending all passenger services with effect from March 18 onwards. In a statement, the virtual carrier said its last such service would be on March 17 as flight ON346 Norfolk Island to Brisbane International, Australia.

Management said the unprofitability and subsequent termination of its Auckland International, New Zealand route, brought on by an increase in operating costs, had rendered its Brisbane service unviable. As such, it had taken the difficult decision to exit the passenger services market. However, it is studying the possibility of continuing operations albeit in the dedicated freight market.

Lacking an AOC, Norfolk Island Airlines had relied on B737-300 capacity chartered from Nauru Airlines (Nauru).

Located 1,400 kilometres off Australia's east coast in the Pacific Ocean, Norfolk Island will see Air New Zealand (NZ, Auckland International) as its only scheduled operator beyond March 18. Service is offered to Sydney Kingsford Smith (3x weekly) and Brisbane International (2x weekly).