Troubles in Noumea

[henrus]

And now Aircalin launching CDG via BKK

I think they were trying to get rights/slots to operate this via Singapore but clearly that hasn't happened.

Back in 2022 they discussed growing Singapore:

New Caledonia's Aircalin mulls Paris flights

Several daily Operator News updates covering all Operator Route Network changes, strategic fleet developments and aircraft orders, start-ups and bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions and partnerships and alliances.

www.ch-aviation.com

Then late last year they said Singapore was the most "attractive" for their NOU-CDG flights (with Bangkok listed as the alternative):

Aircalin Mulls Airbus A350 Or Boeing 787 For Paris Flights In 2026

Aircalin is looking at launching one-stop flights to Paris in 2026 with either Boeing 787s or Airbus A350s.

simpleflying.com

and then this year they did actually operate some NOU-SIN-CDG flights which at the time where one offs due to the riots but later came out and said via Bangkok was most likely:

New Caledonia's Aircalin in merger talks, cuts flights

Several daily Operator News updates covering all Operator Route Network changes, strategic fleet developments and aircraft orders, start-ups and bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions and partnerships and alliances.

www.ch-aviation.com

It'll be interesting long term if they stick with the flight via BKK or if they switch to SIN. Additionally with no traffic rights between CDG-BKK and separately BKK-NOU they will be relying upon people to book NOU-CDG in one flight for now but they're trying to change this before the flights launch.

Something also not being mentioned much in the english articles is this apparently being done/brought forward to stay afloat:
"It is a historic fact to set down our wings at Charles-de-Gaulle" , rejoices Georges Selefen, CEO of Aircalin, for whom this project (initially planned for 2026) is now "an absolute priority" and even "a question of survival".

Aircalin lance sa ligne Nouméa-Paris via Bangkok le 11 décembre

Pour surmonter la crise face à la baisse de plus de 50 % de son nombre de passagers, la compagnie Aircalin a annoncé, ce vendredi, ouvrir sa ligne directe Nouméa-Paris via Bangkok à partir du 11 décembre. Deux vols hebdomadaires sont ainsi prévus pour une durée de vol raccourcie à moins de 24...

www-lnc-nc.translate.goog

The same local news article above indicates they're looking to acquire A350s and even take over the local domestic carrier to combine their airbus network with the Air Caledonie ATR network.

 

[Sprucegoose]

One would be right to question the demand for these services as Noumea is not flash at this time - despite the French regaining control.

 

[SYD]

Pondering if TYO was in the mix? A more direct route but probably not the same attraction as Hawaii…

 

[henrus]

Pondering if TYO was in the mix? A more direct route but probably not the same attraction as Hawaii…

With the closure of Russian airspace to European airlines (remembering Air Calin's aircraft are French registered) flying from NRT-CDG is quite long right now. Air France are still operating NRT-CDG but flight times are currently 14-15 hours on their 777.

SB pulled out of the NOU-NRT market on 1 Sep this year something they'd operated since 2006!

 

[FlyboyAl]

Our QF flights are still booked, and I'm expecting us to go.
The only possible upset is that a group of South Pacific heads of government are planning to visit New Caledonia to "discuss" the issues with those concerned.
I'm not sure when that is, but it just might bring tensions to the surface again.
But I really dont expect much to happen at the Baie de Citrons!

 

[SYD]

With the closure of Russian airspace to European airlines (remembering Air Calin's aircraft are French registered) flying from NRT-CDG is quite long right now. Air France are still operating NRT-CDG but flight times are currently 14-15 hours on their 777.

SB pulled out of the NOU-NRT market on 1 Sep this year something they'd operated since 2006!

The GC route is almost polar, so I would imagine they could potentially dodge Russian airspace. Going via BKK is guaranteeing an inefficient route with the ME thrown in the mix…

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Which FFP let you redeem on Aircalin? another BKK-CDG option would be interesting.

 

[SYD]

Which FFP let you redeem on Aircalin? another BKK-CDG option would be interesting.

QFF and FB

 

[henrus]

The GC route is almost polar, so I would imagine they could potentially dodge Russian airspace.

Currently the route takes them over northern Canada which I think is out of range for the 330neo (or at the very least payload restricted).

Which FFP let you redeem on Aircalin? another BKK-CDG option would be interesting.

QF redemptions on SB are limited to BNE/SYD/MEL-NOU only and are actually I/X award space on the QF flight number (a very limited situation where an award books onto the QF flight number).

On all other SB routes the only program for redemptions is AF/KLs flying blue program.