Aircalin: From New Caledonia to the Rest of the Pacific and Beyond

History and positioning

As the carrier of a small island territory, Aircalin has to combine its role as an essential regional link with the ambitions of an intercontinental network, a balance that is reflected directly in the makeup of its fleet.

The fleet

Long-haul is handled by the Airbus A330neo, while the shorter regional routes in the Pacific use the Airbus A320, a clear division between the airline's two business segments.

Routes and network

On long-haul it links Nouméa with Tokyo, Auckland and Sydney, with a past of direct service to Paris; regionally it reaches Fiji (Nadi), Vanuatu (Port Vila), Wallis and Futuna, making Aircalin often the only direct carrier on these Pacific routes.

On board and service

On the A330neo the cabin offering follows the standards of a long-haul carrier with business class and premium economy, while on regional A320 flights the service is simpler, consistent with legs of a few hours.

It is the best choice for anyone who needs to reach New Caledonia from Asia-Pacific or to move between the South Pacific islands the airline links directly. It is not suited to anyone who needs daily long-haul frequencies, since many intercontinental routes operate only once or twice a week. A practical tip: with frequencies this low on long-haul, avoid scheduling an international connection on the same day you arrive in Nouméa, and leave a buffer of a day or two instead.