Category: Backstage

Transfer of Operations to La Tontouta – Flights Now Available for Booking

Posted on | by editeur aircal

The Government of New Caledonia has announced the effective date for the transfer of all Air Calédonie operations to La Tontouta International Airport, starting March 2, 2026. This transfer represents a strategic milestone for the development of domestic and international air transport, offering passengers an enhanced travel experience, improved connectivity with international flights, and modernized infrastructure to serve New Caledonia.

For several months, Air Calédonie has been actively preparing for this transition to ensure its success. The company is pleased to announce that the entire flight schedule is now open for booking until October 24, 2026.

Air Calédonie clarifies that until the effective transfer date of March 2, 2026, domestic flights will continue to operate from Magenta Airport.

For passengers who have already booked travel for a departure/arrival that will ultimately take place at La Tontouta:

  • Automatic Rebooking: Tickets have been automatically modified at no additional cost to the nearest available flight to the original booking. An email and SMS notification has been sent to each affected customer. If the new flight time is inconvenient, special commercial arrangements are available to facilitate modifications or refunds under certain conditions.

  • Note on Changes: If a customer subsequently wishes to modify their ticket, a fare adjustment may apply due to differences in taxes between the two airports.

  • Unpaid Reservations: For customers who have made a reservation but not yet completed payment (unissued ticket), a new flight and fare proposal will be sent promptly, along with an updated purchase deadline.

The company encourages all customers to verify and update their contact information to ensure they receive these communications without delay.

Air Calédonie’s commercial teams remain fully committed to addressing any questions and providing the best possible support to customers, whom they thank for their understanding.

Finally, the company reminds customers that the Government of New Caledonia has created an information page with all the details related to the transfer. Customers are invited to consult it for any additional questions: 👉 Government Information Page: Magenta to La Tontouta Transfer

From March 2, 2026: all flights will operate from La Tontouta Airport

Posted on | by editeur aircal

The Government of New Caledonia has announced the effective transfer of Air Calédonie’s operations to Nouméa – La Tontouta Airport starting March 2, 2026.

For several months, Air Calédonie teams have been fully committed to preparing for this major project. This collective effort, carried out in coordination with authorities and institutional partners, has enabled us to anticipate the technical, operational, and logistical aspects essential for the success of this transition. Thanks to this rigorous preparation, Air Calédonie is ready to welcome its passengers and operate its flights from La Tontouta under the best possible conditions.

As part of the final adjustments related to this relocation, some operational adaptations are still being finalized. Air Calédonie, along with the authorities, institutional partners, and all stakeholders at the airport, will soon provide detailed communication regarding the various changes associated with this move. Passengers affected by flight changes will be directly notified via SMS or email, based on the contact details provided during their booking. In the event of a rescheduling or refund, they will benefit from an adapted commercial policy.

Air Calédonie thanks all its passengers for their trust and understanding during this transition period.

Transfer of Operations to La Tontouta: An Adapted Commercial Policy

Posted on | by editeur aircal

The government of New Caledonia has announced its decision to transfer Air-Calédonie’s domestic activities from Magenta Airport to La Tontouta (international airport). Although the date is not yet known, the company is actively preparing and aims to reassure its customers.

For now, a flight schedule is on sale departing from Magenta Airport. If, by the time of your trip, the departure is finally to take place at La Tontouta, our teams will ensure to offer you an equivalent flight from the international airport.

Thus, already paid reservations (issued tickets) will be automatically modified without additional cost to the flight closest to your initial reservation. An email and SMS message will be sent to inform you of this change. If this new arrangement does not suit you, special commercial instructions will be offered to facilitate a modification or refund under certain conditions. However, be aware that if you wish to modify your ticket after this step, it will result in a fare adjustment, notably due to different taxes between the two airports.

For those who have only made a reservation without having completed the payment (unissued ticket), a new flight and fare proposal will be sent to you with an updated purchase deadline.

We encourage our customers to verify and update their contact information to receive these communications under the best conditions. Our sales teams are at your disposal via the contact form or by email at vente@air-caledonie.nc to answer all your questions.

The company thanks its customers for their trust and understanding.

Transfert à la Tontouta - Air Calédonie

Project to Transfer Air Calédonie’s Operations to Tontouta

Posted on | by editeur aircal

The Government of New Caledonia announced via a press release in June the formation of a working group, under its authority, dedicated to the project of relocating Air Calédonie’s operations to La Tontouta Airport. Composed of representatives from institutions, company management, social partners, and technical experts, this group is tasked with collectively assessing the feasibility of the project, identifying its impacts, and defining possible implementation scenarios. The aim is to develop clear pathways for implementation before the end of 2025.

In this context, the airline’s teams are actively contributing to the preparation of this major relocation and are working to define the most appropriate processes for a smooth customer experience. Once the exact transfer date is set and officially announced by the government, the airline will roll out a more specific communication plan to inform its customers.

As of now, a flight schedule to and from Magenta is available for booking through February 15, 2025. When Air Calédonie launches the new schedule for flights to and from La Tontouta, customers who have already purchased or reserved tickets will be offered a new flight.

The airline thanks its customers for their trust and understanding.

Flight Cancellation until February 7th

Posted on | by editeur aircal

[Updated on February 4]

Due to ongoing technical issues and despite the efforts of our teams, the airline is forced to cancel its flights on February 6 and 7.

Passengers are notified by SMS or email based on the contact details provided at the time of booking, but they are not automatically rebooked.

Affected passengers must communicate their choice of adjustment as soon as possible—particularly those wishing to be rebooked on the next available flight, whose requests will be prioritized.

To do so, the airline invites its customers to fill out the dedicated form available here.

Only one form per booking reference is required, so there is no need to follow up with our teams.

Our teams are making every effort to process requests quickly; however, due to the high volume of inquiries, processing delays are to be expected.

The airline is doing everything possible to minimize the inconvenience caused by this situation and thanks its passengers for their understanding.

—-

Due to technical issues combined with unfavorable weather conditions, the airline is forced to cancel all flights until February 5th included.

Aware of the difficulties this situation may cause, the airline invites its passengers to complete an online form to quickly specify their travel needs. This will help prioritize passenger rescheduling when flights resume, which our teams are actively working on. A maritime alternative is not possible, as the Betico ferry has also canceled its services due to strong swells.

Information for Passengers:

  • Affected passengers will be notified via SMS or email, according to the contact details provided at the time of booking.
  • There is no need to go to the airport in hopes of being placed on standby.
  • A new flight schedule will be established as soon as possible to repatriate stranded passengers as quickly as possible.
  • To be rebooked on the first available flight, it is essential to complete the dedicated form (available here). Only requests submitted via this form will be prioritized.
  • Requests can also be made through our agents, but rescheduled flights will be at later dates.

Recommendations:

We encourage those who can to postpone their travel plans whenever possible, except in cases of compelling reasons.

The airline thanks its customers for their understanding. Our teams remain fully committed to managing this exceptional situation, particularly disruptive during this post-holiday travel period.

Flight Cancellation until February 5th

Posted on | by editeur aircal

Due to technical issues combined with unfavorable weather conditions, the airline is forced to cancel all flights until February 5th included.

Aware of the difficulties this situation may cause, the airline invites its passengers to complete an online form to quickly specify their travel needs. This will help prioritize passenger rescheduling when flights resume, which our teams are actively working on. A maritime alternative is not possible, as the Betico ferry has also canceled its services due to strong swells.

Information for Passengers:

  • Affected passengers will be notified via SMS or email, according to the contact details provided at the time of booking.
  • There is no need to go to the airport in hopes of being placed on standby.
  • A new flight schedule will be established as soon as possible to repatriate stranded passengers as quickly as possible.
  • To be rebooked on the first available flight, it is essential to complete the dedicated form (available here). Only requests submitted via this form will be prioritized.
  • Requests can also be made through our agents, but rescheduled flights will be at later dates.

Recommendations:

We encourage those who can to postpone their travel plans whenever possible, except in cases of compelling reasons.

The airline thanks its customers for their understanding. Our teams remain fully committed to managing this exceptional situation, particularly disruptive during this post-holiday travel period.

Happy New Year 2025 !

Posted on | by editeur aircal
Best Wishes for the New Year

Air Calédonie extends its warmest wishes for the new year. As we look forward to 2025, a fresh breeze of renewal is sweeping through Air Calédonie: transformation of the company, modernization, and enhancement of our services to better meet your expectations and take you to new horizons.

May this new year be filled with extraordinary adventures, memorable discoveries, and precious moments shared with your loved ones.

Thank you for continuing to travel with us.

70 Years by Your Side

On December 9, 1954, a group of passionate individuals gave birth to what would become much more than an airline: a true connection between the islands of New Caledonia, recently strengthened by opening up to our Pacific neighbors, such as Vanuatu.

As we celebrate these 70 years, we reflect with gratitude on the journey we’ve taken and the trust you place in us every day. Your loyalty and attachment to Air Calédonie inspire us to go ever further.

Flight Schedule Disruptions and Management of Operational Challenges

Posted on | by editeur aircal

[Updated on December 18]

Due to ongoing technical issues and despite the efforts of our teams, disruptions are still occurring. As a result, changes to our flight schedule—sometimes at the last minute—may arise, leading to significant delays or cancellations.

In the event of a cancellation, passengers are notified by SMS or email based on the contact details provided at the time of booking, but they are not automatically rebooked.

Affected passengers must inform us of their preferred resolution as soon as possible—especially those wishing to be rescheduled on the next available flight, whose requests are given priority.

To do so, the airline invites customers to complete the dedicated form available here.

Our teams are doing their utmost to process requests promptly, but due to the volume of inquiries, processing times are to be expected.

Additionally, cancellations that have occurred since last week have caused congestion in our cargo service, extending delivery times for shipments already in progress. As of today, only urgent parcel shipment requests are being handled at the cargo service desks at our stations.

The airline is making every effort to minimize the inconvenience caused by this situation and thanks its passengers for their understanding.

——-

Due to technical issues, significant changes to the flight schedule are expected through Friday, December 13 (inclusive).
Our teams are working diligently to implement all possible alternatives to minimize the impact on passengers and keep them informed directly.

We encourage affected passengers to prioritize online processes whenever possible, as our call center is currently overwhelmed.

What to do if your flight is canceled?

If your flight is canceled, you will automatically receive a text message and an email at the contact details provided during booking.
To help expedite the resolution of your case, we strongly encourage you to complete the dedicated online form: https://bit.ly/4iuEJLq.

Why are these disruptions occurring?

These cascading schedule changes result from several factors linked to the events of last May, which caused a sharp decline in domestic air traffic.

To adapt to this challenging context, the airline has implemented a profound and sustainable transformation plan. The flight schedule has been adjusted to meet reduced demand, maintaining limited rotations, especially for tourist destinations like the Isle of Pines or Ouvéa, with one flight per day or fewer. This program relies on the operation of two ATR72-600 aircraft from the fleet of four.

To optimize resources, the airline has also leased one of its aircraft to Air Tahiti for a year and adjusted its workforce accordingly. Additionally, another ATR is undergoing scheduled maintenance for several weeks. As a result, the airline currently has only two operational aircraft, leaving little room for maneuver in the event of disruptions, whether external (such as weather disturbances) or internal (such as technical issues).

Meeting demands during peak periods

Despite these constraints and the high demand during the holiday season and school vacation period, the airline is committed to meeting its passengers’ needs to the best of its ability and optimizing capacity across all destinations.

We sincerely thank our passengers for their patience and understanding.

New Destination: Air Calédonie is flying to Vanuatu

Posted on | by editeur aircal

Air Calédonie announces the opening of a new regional air route, in cooperation with Aircalin, to the capital of Vanuatu, Port-Vila. The first flight is scheduled on October 3rd, 2024, to be operated with one ATR 72-600 aircraft, departing from La Tontouta International Airport. This flight will mark the beginning of a regular schedule twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays.

More informations here

Direct service between La Tontouta and the Isle of Pines in march 2024

Posted on | by editeur aircal

Aircalin and Air Calédonie continue their commercial cooperation by jointly offering, from March 1 to March 15, five exceptional rotations between the Isle of Pines and La Tontouta Airport. In practical terms, this means that visitors can directly reach the Pacific gem with Air Calédonie flights, connecting directly from their international flight without transiting through the capital.

For Aircalin, this operation contributes to the strategic development of its network. It allows the reinforcement of its offerings in international markets through the “code share” scheduled on these flights from February 1, thereby consolidating its role in the Pacific region. The company reaffirms its commitment to developing tourism and participates in positioning New Caledonia as an attractive and more accessible air destination. As a reminder, “code share” flights have a single Aircalin flight number, visible and bookable in all reservation systems globally. They are also eligible for mileage accumulation for Flying Blue program members.

For Air Calédonie, this operation also targets a local clientele residing in the Païta/Bourail area, for whom access to La Tontouta Airport is quicker and more convenient. This direct connection avoids the need to go to Nouméa, facilitating pre-travel logistics. These special flights represent a significant stake in its future development. The company aims to explore new opportunities and establish itself at the international airport, with the intention of offering regular and sustainable rotations. Through this initiative, it contributes to the economic development of the territory, especially in alignment with the country’s tourism strategy.

On this occasion, the company is implementing a promotional offer, allowing customers to enjoy a weekend on the Pacific gem at a very competitive rate. Learn more.

All customer information is available on the respective websites of the companies: www.aircalin.nc and www.air-caledonie.nc or through sales agencies.

I book