New Caledonia’s domestic airline files for bankruptcy

[NamarrgonFlyer]

New Caledonia's domestic airline Air Calédonie filed for bankruptcy on Friday, following almost a month of blockades by customers in the French Pacific territory's outer islands.


The protest movement had been initiated by groups of angry outer islands customers who intended to oppose the company's decision to move Air Calédonie's operations from the Nouméa Magenta airport to New Caledonia's international La Tontouta base, more than fifty kilometres away from Nouméa city.


The smaller airport of Magenta, until now dedicated to domestic traffic, is located closer to Nouméa.


The beginning of the protest movement, which effectively grounded all Air Calédonie aircraft, dates back to 2 March 2026.


The protesters are gathered under the name of "collective of users" and, on each participating island, are headed by local chiefs who are invoking custom rights.


In terms of law and order, and in defence of the principle of freedom of movement and "territorial continuity", on the part of French State representatives, there have been no attempts to disrupt the movement by force, but negotiations have been taking place with leaders in order to find a concerted way out of the blockades.


Economic stakeholders have also alerted authorities of the negative repercussions of the inter-island crisis, especially on tourism and hospitality-related businesses.


On some islands, views expressed range from an outright rejection of any aircraft landing, while others would accept the landing of aircraft from other airlines, but not from Air Calédonie.


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New Caledonia’s domestic airline files for bankruptcy

New Caledonia's domestic airline Air Calédonie filed for bankruptcy on Friday.

www.rnz.co.nz