Air Calédonie’s First ATR 72-600 Flight to Vanuatu Set for October 3rd

September 10, 2024 3:54 am | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

Compiled by Doddy Morris

Aircalin’s ATR 72-600 aircraft’s first flight to Vanuatu is scheduled for Thursday, October 3, 2024, departing from La Tontouta International Airport.

Air Calédonie and Aircalin relayed via a Press Release (PR) that Air Calédonie’s flights to Port Vila will be operated under a codeshare agreement with Aircalin, and this flight will mark the beginning of a regular schedule, twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays.

“The launch of this new regional route is part of the deeper cooperation initiated between the two airlines in March 2023 with a domestic codeshare agreement, which enabled the sale of tickets on international markets,” they stated.

“This cooperation was further reinforced in March 2024, when five exceptional rotations operated by Air Calédonie between the Isle of Pines and La Tontouta Airport were organised in connection with Aircalin’s international flights.”

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Calédonie, Daniel Houmbouy, conveyed that they had been working on this new international route for several months.

“This is a major step for the airline, demonstrating our commitment to ensuring strong connections not only within the islands of New Caledonia but also across the Pacific region,” he stated.

“In these challenging times, this route represents a vital opportunity to maintain jobs and sustain the level of activity necessary for the airline’s durability.

“The involvement of our teams in this project reflects our determination to expand into new opportunities, and this is just the first step in our essential transformation plan for the future.”

Customers will be able to purchase their tickets from either Aircalin or Air Calédonie, and Air Calédonie’s flights will be distributed worldwide. Both airlines aim to meet customers’ expectations for regular service between New Caledonia and Vanuatu.

“Aircalin currently offers a weekly flight on Fridays with their A320neo, limited to the school holiday period.

For Aircalin, the relaunch of this route via Air Calédonie is also part of its recovery plan, which includes a temporary reduction in its regional flight schedule,” the two airlines added.

This is not the first time Air Calédonie and Aircalin have operated flights to Vanuatu. In 2017, Air Vanuatu and Aircalin signed a codeshare agreement that allowed the two carriers to offer tickets on all scheduled commercial flights between Port Vila and Nouméa.

In 2022, Aircalin resumed its flights after two and a half years of COVID-19 lockdown.