Fiji’s national flag carrier Fiji Airways launched its new direct flight between Nouméa (New Caledonia) and Nadi (Fiji) on Tuesday.
The Nadi-Nouméa bi-weekly – every Tuesday and Friday – direct route was initially introduced by Fiji Airways in November 2023.
But it had to be suspended due to severe civil unrest which broke out in the French territory in May 2024, resulting in 14 deaths and over €2 billion in economic damages.
Several months following the insurrection, Nouméa international airport of La Tontouta was closed down.
More than two years later, the resumption of the service aboard Fiji Airways Fiji Link ATR-72-600 aircraft has been welcomed by New Caledonia’s authorities, including the tourism industry.
Fiji Airways Fiji Link’s ATR 72-600 aircraft.
Supplied / Fiji Airways
Nouvelle-Calédonie Tourisme general manager Julie Laronde told local media this was an “important sign of confidence” from regional airlines.
Two years after the unrest, New Caledonia’s tourism industry is still struggling to regain its pre-2024 arrival levels.
Fiji Airways said the new service is adding a seat capacity of over 10,000 annually between Fiji and New Caledonia.
If the route is doing sufficiently well, it is also planning to introduce a third weekly flight on the same route, starting 13 December 2026.
Following the inaugural flight on Tuesday, Fiji Airways managing director and CEO Paul Scurrah said the return of the service was “an important milestone for Fiji Airways and the wider Pacific region”.
The Nadi to Nouméa connection “opens up an exciting new way for our two countries to connect, reinforcing Fiji’s place as the Pacific’s connecting hub”.
Nouméa and Suva are also home to some of the Pacific’s key intergovernmental and development organisations, creating an important corridor for professionals, delegates, consultants and partners travelling across the region.
Underlining the significant volume of regional business flights, the company recalled that “both New Caledonia and Fiji host some of the Pacific’s most significant intergovernmental and development organisations, with staff, delegates, consultants and partners travelling regularly between [Nouméa and Suva]”.
New Caledonia is the headquarters of the Pacific Community (SPC), which also has its second largest branch in Suva.
Suva is also home to other significant regional organisations such as the Pacific Islands Forum, as well as the regional Pacific bases for several international organisations and agencies.
“Fiji Airways looks forward to supporting the connectivity needs of these organisations and the broader professional community that keeps the Pacific connected,” Scurrah said.
The Nadi-Nouméa route also provides regional synergy in terms of added benefits to each company’s respective networks, “providing travellers with onward connections across the Pacific, New Zealand, United States and Canada”.
“New Caledonia is a stunning destination and an important market for Fiji Airways,” Scurrah said.
“Reinstating this service creates exciting new opportunities for travellers, whether visiting Fiji for our world-renowned hospitality or exploring the unique French Pacific culture of Nouméa.”
Scurrah said the air connection also comes in response to a growing regional demand.
On the same route, New Caledonia’s international airline Air Calédonie International (AirCalin) also operates a weekly flight.
