Fiji Airways, Fiji’s National Airline, is proud to announce that New Caledonia’s capital, Noumea is our newest international destination.
The company confirms that Fiji has an existing Air Service Agreement (ASA) which allows Fiji Airways to provide services in French territories.
The first flight to La Tontouta International Airport in Noumea will be on Thursday 30th November and starting 7th December, the national carrier will fly twice weekly, every Monday and Thursday.
Fiji Airways is the perfect hub for guests out of New Caledonia, providing a comprehensive network of onward connections to North America, Asia, as well as other Pacific Island countries.
With the introduction of these new services, Fiji Airways will be flying directly to 26 destinations around the world.
Noumea is the third new market added to our network since international borders opened in December 2021.
The airline brings in 70 percent of all visitor arrivals into Fiji, and is the largest foreign exchange earner for the economy.
New Caledonia’s Aircalin has taken delivery of its first A320neo. The aircraft joins two A330neo already delivered under the carrier’s fleet modernisation plan.
With its new fleet the airline benefits from the lowest operating costs in the respective size categories, as well as the unique commonality between variants of the Airbus Family.
Aircalin’s A320neo is powered by Pratt & Whitney PW1000 engines and configured in a single class layout with 168 seats.
With the A320neo, Aircalin will be able to increase capacity on its flights and open new routes across the Pacific region.
The A320neo Family offers the widest single-aisle cabin in the sky and incorporates the latest technologies, including new generation engines and Sharklets, delivering a 20 per cent reduction in fuel consumption, as well as 50 per cent less noise compared to previous generation aircraft.
At the end of November 2020, the A320neo Family had received 7,455 firm orders from over 120 customers worldwide.
Melbourne, 26th February 2019 – Air Vanuatu, the national flag carrier of the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, has signed a firm order with Airbus for four A220s (two A220-100s and two A220-300s). Air Vanuatu’s first ever order with Airbus makes it the launch customer of the A220 in the Pacific region.
Based at Bauerfield International Airport in the capital Port Vila, Air Vanuatu operates to 26 domestic airports and internationally to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and New Caledonia. It began services in 1987, and has played a vital role in establishing Vanuatu as a tourist and investment destination. Currently the airline operates a Boeing 737 and ATR 72 fleet.
Air Vanuatu Chief Executive Officer Derek Nice said: “We are proud to be the launch airline in the South Pacific of the best-in-class Airbus A220. These aircraft will be deployed to operate on our current domestic and international routes, including our newly announced non-stop Melbourne-Vanuatu service, and will bolster plans to expand our network in the South Pacific.”
“By ordering the A220 Air Vanuatu is making a significant investment in advanced technology and superior passenger comfort, while demonstrating its respect for fuel efficiency and the environment. Air Vanuatu’s decision to place the Airbus A220 at the centre of its expansion plans will surely keep it one step ahead of the competition,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer.
Passengers on board the A220 will experience superior cabin comfort, the widest seats and the largest windows in its market segment. The A220’s performance and range capabilities will enable Air Vanuatu to streamline its current operations and launch a growth plan that is a key pillar of Vanuatu’s economic development goals.
The A220 delivers unbeatable fuel efficiency. It brings together state-of-the-art aerodynamics, advanced materials and Pratt & Whitney’s latest-generation PW1500G geared turbofan engines to offer at least 20 percent lower fuel burn per seat compared to previous generation aircraft.
With an order book of over 530 aircraft to date, the A220 has all the credentials to win the lion’s share of the 100- to 150-seat aircraft market, estimated to represent at least 7,000 aircraft over the next 20 years.
About Airbus
Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2018 it generated revenues of €64 billion restated for IFRS 15 and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world’s leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.
