Opening of the Noumea-Port Vila line operated by Air Calédonie, in code share with Aircalin

Air Calédonie announces the opening of a new regional airline, in cooperation with Aircalin, to Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila. The first flight will be operated on 3 October 2024 with one of the company’s ATR 72-600, departing from La Tontouta international airport. It will mark the beginning of a regular flight program with two weekly rotations, on Mondays and Thursdays.

The launch of this new regional line falls within the cooperation initiated between the two companies in March 2023, with the code-share agreement on domestic flights enabling the sale of tickets on international markets, and then in March 2024, enabling the organisation of five exceptional rotations operated by Air Calédonie between the Isle of Pines and La Tontouta airport.

Daniel Houmbouy, Air Calédonie’s General Manager: “We have been working for several months on this new international connection. This is an essential step for the company, demonstrating our commitment to ensure the strong links between Caledonian islands, but also within the Pacific region. In this difficult period, this connection represents a vital opportunity to maintain jobs and keep the necessary activity level for the company’s survival. The teams’ involvement in this project shows our determination to make progress towards positive outlooks, and this is only the first step in our transformation, which is absolutely essential for the future.”

Air Calédonie’s flights to Port Vila shall therefore be operated in code share with Aircalin. The customers will thus be able to buy indifferently Aircalin or Air Calédonie tickets and the Air Calédonie flights shall be distributed worldwide. Both companies wish to meet customer demand, as they are waiting for a regular connection between New Caledonia and Vanuatu. Aircalin currently offers a weekly flight on Fridays, with an A320neo, only during school holiday periods.

For Aircalin, the relaunch of this route via Air Calédonie falls into the company’s plan for overcoming the crisis, which provides for a temporary reduction of its regional flight program.

Georges Selefen, Aircalin’s General Manager: “This code-share project with Air Calédonie is an opportunity to maintain a historical and regular connection with Vanuatu. This enables our frequent flyers to find a combined offer with two to three flights per week. We continue our cooperation to increase this connection in the coming months and also enable Air Calédonie to put its code on our flights to Port Vila.”

As for the other domestic destinations already served, the customers are invited to book their travels to Vanuatu directly online on www.air-caledonie.nc or on www.aircalin.nc, by phone at the companies’ sales offices or with the travel agencies

Flight program
Monday:
-TY915/SB3240: departure from La Tontouta at 3:00p.m., arrival in Port Vila at 4:30p.m.
-TY916/SB3241: departure from Port Vila at 5:30p.m., arrival in La Tontouta at 7:00p.m.
Thursday:
-TY915/SB3240: departure from La Tontouta at 3:00p.m., arrival in Port Vila at 4:30p.m.
-TY916/SB3241: departure from Port Vila at 5:30p.m., arrival in La Tontouta at 7:00p.m.