Aircalin (SB, Nouméa La Tontouta) has firmed up its order for two A320neos and two A330-900neo announced in November last year as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) under its Aircalin 2021 growth plan.
According to Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac), the A320neo are powered by Pratt & Whitney and are equipped with 168 seats. The first of the type is due in the second quarter of 2020 with the second due in 2021. The A330neo are Rolls-Royce-powered and feature 26 seats in Business, 21 in Premium and 244 in Economy Class. The first A330neo is due during the second quarter of 2019, the second in the third quarter, and the third during the course of 2021.
Collectively, the aircraft will be used to replace the carrier's fleet of two A320-200s and two A330-200s that are currently used to serve Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands as well as Japan. Following Beijing's decision to designate New Caledonia an approved tourism destination, Aircalin has now secured a charter contract with a Chinese tour operator to run charter flights from Hangzhou, China, to Nouméa La Tontouta from February 16, 2018, onwards. The service is seen as a litmus test for future scheduled operations to China.
Aircalin is 99.4% owned by the government of the French South Pacific territory of New Caledonia through one of its public entities, ADANC (l’Agence pour la desserte aérienne de la Nouvelle-Calédonie). Aircalin is not intended to be a profitable entity as government believes the overall benefits the airline brings to the island outweigh its losses. In this context, Aircalin's key objectives are to serve New Caledonia's tourism and business markets.
