Saturday, September 14, 2024 Aircalin is about to test just how long travelers are willing to stay in the air with its upcoming direct flight between Nouméa (NOU) and Paris Charles De Gaulle (CDG) on an Airbus A330neo. This ambitious journey, which includes a stopover in Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, will take approximately 26 hours from start to finish, giving new meaning to the term “long-haul flight.” The service is set to begin in December, marking a significant move for the airline and its passengers.
Originally, Aircalin had planned to launch the direct route to Paris in 2026, but recent political unrest in New Caledonia has accelerated the timeline. Faced with the need to scale back its network, Aircalin made the decision to expedite the Paris route. Last month, it suspended services to Tokyo Narita, a move mirrored by French flag carrier Air France, which has reduced its Tokyo operations to just Haneda.
As reported by France Info , the new Nouméa-Paris route will officially take off on December 11, 2024. During a press conference, Aircalin stated that while it has already secured the necessary approvals from its own government, the airline is still awaiting final clearance from Thailand, though it anticipates no delays. Mark your calendars! Tickets for this 26-hour journey will go on sale starting September 16, with flights scheduled to run twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
The airline’s Airbus A330neo aircraft will be utilized for the service, offering modern amenities and comfort throughout this extensive voyage. The journey from Nouméa, including the Bangkok stop, will span a marathon 26 hours—perfect for the most patient travelers. At present, Aircalin’s long-haul fleet includes two Airbus A330neo planes, which will serve as the workhorses for this challenging route.
Here’s the simplified version of the table: Registration Age Delivery F-ONEO 5.2 August 2019 F-ONET 5.0 October 2019 Both aircraft are configured with a total of 291 seats, arranged as follows: By the end of last year, Aircalin had expressed its intention to launch direct flights to Paris using either the Airbus A350 or Boeing 787 and was in the process of evaluating an order.
It now appears that a decision has been reached..
