henrus
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I think they were trying to get rights/slots to operate this via Singapore but clearly that hasn't happened.And now Aircalin launching CDG via BKK
Back in 2022 they discussed growing Singapore:
New Caledonia's Aircalin mulls Paris flights
Several daily Operator News updates covering all Operator Route Network changes, strategic fleet developments and aircraft orders, start-ups and bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions and partnerships and alliances.
www.ch-aviation.com
Then late last year they said Singapore was the most "attractive" for their NOU-CDG flights (with Bangkok listed as the alternative):
Aircalin Mulls Airbus A350 Or Boeing 787 For Paris Flights In 2026
Aircalin is looking at launching one-stop flights to Paris in 2026 with either Boeing 787s or Airbus A350s.
simpleflying.com
and then this year they did actually operate some NOU-SIN-CDG flights which at the time where one offs due to the riots but later came out and said via Bangkok was most likely:
New Caledonia's Aircalin in merger talks, cuts flights
Several daily Operator News updates covering all Operator Route Network changes, strategic fleet developments and aircraft orders, start-ups and bankruptcies, mergers and acquisitions and partnerships and alliances.
www.ch-aviation.com
It'll be interesting long term if they stick with the flight via BKK or if they switch to SIN. Additionally with no traffic rights between CDG-BKK and separately BKK-NOU they will be relying upon people to book NOU-CDG in one flight for now but they're trying to change this before the flights launch.
Something also not being mentioned much in the english articles is this apparently being done/brought forward to stay afloat:
"It is a historic fact to set down our wings at Charles-de-Gaulle" , rejoices Georges Selefen, CEO of Aircalin, for whom this project (initially planned for 2026) is now "an absolute priority" and even "a question of survival".
Aircalin lance sa ligne Nouméa-Paris via Bangkok le 11 décembre
Pour surmonter la crise face à la baisse de plus de 50 % de son nombre de passagers, la compagnie Aircalin a annoncé, ce vendredi, ouvrir sa ligne directe Nouméa-Paris via Bangkok à partir du 11 décembre. Deux vols hebdomadaires sont ainsi prévus pour une durée de vol raccourcie à moins de 24...
www-lnc-nc.translate.goog
The same local news article above indicates they're looking to acquire A350s and even take over the local domestic carrier to combine their airbus network with the Air Caledonie ATR network.