Summary
- Air New Zealand suspends flights to New Caledonia due to political unrest causing airport closures and uncertainty.
- Airline apologizes for disruption and offers credit for affected customers, while the Royal New Zealand Air Force helps with repatriation.
- Customers holding bookings for Noumea flights can opt for credit or refunds amid high travel uncertainty.
Wars and civil unrest are impacting commercial aviation in various parts of the world, and while most of the attention is focused on the Middle East and Ukraine, trouble in the Pacific is also grounding flights. Yesterday, Air New Zealand announced it is suspending its services to the Pacific island of New Caledonia, as political unrest and violent protests have closed the airport and created an uncertain environment for airline operations.
A turbulent time in Noumea
On June 10, Air New Zealand advised that due to the ongoing uncertainty in New Caledonia, the airline will pause its Auckland – Noumea service from June 10 to September 28, 2024. The airline last operated the scheduled service on May 13, with the airport later closed when protestors blocked the main road between Noumea and the airport.
Photo: Airbus
On May 13, Air New Zealand flight NZ932 departed Auckland Airport at 09:44 and, after a 2:39-hour flight, landed in New Caledonia at Noumea La Tontouta International Airport (NOU) at 11:23. The service was operated with a 2019 Airbus A320neo, registration ZK-NHC and MSN 08833, which later departed as flight NZ933 at 12:51 to arrive in Auckland at 16:09.
What the airline says
Air New Zealand General Manager Short-Haul Jeremy O’Brien said that given the continued closure of the airport and ongoing uncertainty, it’s challenging for the airline to continue operations in New Caledonia in the short term. He added:
“We understand that this will be disappointing for customers who have travel plans to and from Noumea and we apologise for the disruption this causes. It’s not a decision we have taken lightly, and we’re committed to returning to Noumea after 28 September.”
The sudden closure of the airport and the State of Emergency declaration left hundreds of tourists stranded. The Royal New Zealand Air Force was enlisted to help repatriate more than 250 Kiwis left in New Caledonia and operated six Hercules flights carrying around 50 passengers per flight from a secondary domestic airport in New Caledonia to Auckland Airport (AKL).
The first Hercules flight landed at Auckland Airport on May 21, and while some limited flights are operating out of the main airport, it is not fully operational. The domestic airline, Air Caledonie, has resumed a limited schedule from Noumea Magenta Airport (GEA) using its fleet of ATR 72/42 turboprops to the Isle of Pines and the Loyalty Islands Group.
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With Air New Zealand flights to Noumea now suspended until late September, significant numbers of customers are holding bookings for flights that may not be operated. Yesterday, the airline said that customers booked directly with Air New Zealand to travel to Noumea will have their flights automatically held in credit. Given the high uncertainty around travel to New Caledonia, they will not be rebooked on alternative flights.
If they choose customers can also opt to receive a full refund on their booking. The airline advised that if the booking was made through a travel agent, customers need to contact the agent directly to discuss their options.
Have you been to New Caledonia? Let us know in the comments.