Summary
- Air traffic in New Caledonia halted due to violence following constitutional change debate in Paris.
- Noumea’s airports, both domestic and international, closed due to blockades and safety concerns.
- Aircalin suspended all services, foreign carriers impacted, curfews imposed, 600 French military forces mobilized.
Air traffic in the French territory of New Caledonia is at a standstill due to ongoing violence in the nation’s capital following a debate from Paris that proposed constitutional changes that are presumed to favor France’s continued governance of the South Pacific territory.
Following the violence, decisions were made to close both Noumea’s airports: La Tontouta International Airport (NOU), Which serves all international flights and is approximately an hour from Nouméa, and Magenta Airport (GEA), a predominantly domestic airport located on the outskirts of Noumea.
Blockades have been erected at the gates of La Tontouta. The flag carrier, Aircalin, has canceled all services, and foreign carriers have had their operations suspended. The New Caledonia Chamber of Commerce released this statement regarding the airport closure, as reported by Aeronews:
“Nouméa-La Tontouta airport is experiencing a major disruption with the cancellation of commercial flights and the closure of its doors. This unforeseen situation has caused disruption for many travelers.”

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Curfews in place
Due to the tensions, the local government implemented curfews, and the French government mobilized six hundred French military forces personnel from Europe to New Caledonia to help calm the unrest. Across the island, roads have been blocked, and according to a report in the New Zealand Herald, fires and gunshots have been heard.
The flag carrier of New Caledonia, Aircalin, posted information on their website regarding the suspension of services between May 14 and May 16, noting the below services affected:
- Nouméa Auckland rotation 14 May – flights SB410 NZ313 TN1602 / SB411 NZ312 TN1601
- Nouméa Sydney rotation 14 May – flights SB140 QF8692 / SB 141 QF 8693
- Nadi Nouméa 14 May – SB 331
- Singapore Nouméa 14 May – SB 741 AF 4023
- Nouméa Tokyo rotation 15 May – flights SB 800 AF 4020 JL 5370 / SB801 AF 4021 JL 5371
- Nouméa Nadi Papeete rotation 14 May – flights SB630 TN 1622 / SB631 TN 1621
- Nouméa Brisbane rotation 15 May – f lights SB150 QF8694 / SB151 QF8695
- Nouméa Singapore rotation 16 May – flights SB740 AF4022 / SB741 AF4023
- Nouméa Sydney rotation 16 May – flights SB140 QF8692 / SB141 QF8693
Photo: Singapore Changi Airport
Aircalin fleet
Aircalin operates four Airbus aircraft—two narrowbody A320neos and two widebody A33neos. With an average fleet age of just 3.7 years, according to Airfleets, the next time you travel to this slice of French Pacific paradise, you could be on one of the youngest aircraft in the region. The domestic carrier, Air Calédonie, has a fleet of four ATR 72-600, which can seat 70 passengers.

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