EUROPE – NEW CALEDONIA CONNECTION IMPROVED THANKS TO NEW SINGAPORE-NOUMEA ROUTE

The launch of a new route between New Caledonia and Singapore by Aircalin International, starting July, will boost the French overseas territory’s connectivity with the rest of the world – and particularly Europe, the Middle-East and Asia.

The reopening of New Caledonia as well as countries in Asia and the Pacific Rim translates into the return of air routes. New Caledonia’s national carrier Aircalin International resumed in February frequencies to Australia and early May its Noumea-Auckland (NZ) route. The carrier now announces the reopening of a historic route: Noumea-Singapore. The route is part of New Caledonia’s history with first flights getting back as far as 1939. Singapore-Noumea was then served by Air France until the late 1990s.

Aircalin will start flying from and to Singapore July 1st, 2022. The non-stop flight will take between 8 hours and 30 minutes and 9 hours between both destinations. Frequencies will be every Friday and Sunday. The aircraft will be an Airbus A330-900neo aircraft fitted with 291 seats in Business Class, Premium Economy Class and Economy Class.

The fastest route between Europe and New Caledonia

In Singapore, further connections will be assured with the rest of the world and particularly Europe. The Singapore route will indeed be the fastest way to fly into New Caledonia.

Flights will connect with Air France frequencies to Paris -the French airline being on code-share on Aircalin’s new route. However, Aircalin will also work with other air partners such as Finnair, KLM or Singapore Airlines among others. The opening of the new route will provide enhanced access to 116 cities and 46 countries including other destinations in South and Southeast Asia and the Middle-East.

The opening follows New Caledonia’s relaxation of travel rules. Fully vaccinated travellers from a green or orange zone country can enter the territory if they can:

– Justify a complete vaccination scheme and present proof upon boarding. 

– Complete a sworn statement concerning the Covid test after their arrival and present it at boarding.

– Take an antigenic test 48h after their arrival and keep the proof of the negative test result. RAT tests can be done in pharmacies and are free of charge, upon presentation of passport.

Rules are however different for travellers from a red zone country of for unvaccinated travellers.