Bad weather in the South Pacific caused severe disruption to regional carrier Air Calédonie. Operating from Nouméa's Magenta Airport (GEA), the airline operates all domestic operations for the French collectivity of New Caledonia.

Cyclone Hale has battered and bruised multiple nations in its wake, moving from New Caledonia onto New Zealand, with the East Coast of New Zealand's North Island taking the brunt of the tropical cyclone.

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All services canceled

On January 8, Air Calédonie decided to cancel all its services, which caused a knock-on effect for travelers. The airline scheduled extra flights for the following days after the cyclone passed.

Domestic connectivity in New Caledonia

The French Collectivity of New Caledonia is home to over 270,000 people, with two major airports for Noumea.

Nouméa Magenta Airport (GEA) is the leading domestic airport and home to Air Calédonie (TY), with Nouméa La Tontouta International Airport (NOU) being the main international airport offering a range of services to Asia and the South Pacific.

Air Calédonie has a fleet of four ATR 72-600, with the capacity to seat 70 passengers. From Nouméa Magenta Airport, the airline operates to:

• Île Art – Waala Airport (BMY)
• Île des Pins Airport (ILP)
• Koné Airport (KNQ)
• Koumac Airport (KOC)
• Lifou Ouanaham Airport (LIF)
• Maré Airport (MEE)
• Ouvéa Airport (UVE)
• Tiga Airport (TGJ)
• Touho Airport (TOU)

History of Air Calédonie

Commencing operations as Transpac Airlines, the first airline of New Caledonia, on December 9, 1954, was the idea of a group of local aviation enthusiasts. With local government investment into the airline on February 9, 1961, the carrier was renamed Air Calédonie.

In 1968 the airline introduced turbo-props, and the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter joined the fleet. 1986 welcomed the ATR 42-300 to the fleet, with the airline being one of the first to operate the 46-seater type. The 2000s saw continuous development and growth for the airline, adopting the larger ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-500.

Carrying almost half a million domestic travelers between 2013-2014 has seen the airline invest in new aircraft, with its now four current ATR 72-600's (F-OZIP, F-OZKN, F-OZLI, F-OZNO), all being between five and six years old.

Discover more aviation news for Australia and Oceania here

Big brother Air Calin

New Caledonia's international airline, Société Aircalin (Air Calédonie International) (SB), calls Noumea La Tontouta International Airport (NOU) home and operates a robust schedule for travelers to the Pacific paradise. The airport is located in Païta, 52 km (32 mi) northwest of Nouméa. From La Tontouta, the airline operates direct services to:

• Auckland International Airport (AKL)
• Brisbane International Airport (BNE)
• Nadi International Airport (NAN)
• Papeete Faa'a International Airport (PPT)
• Port Vila Bauerfield International Airport (VLI)
• Singapore Changi International Airport (SIN)
• Sydney Kingsford Smith International Airport (SYD)
• Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)
• Wallis Island Hihifo Airport (WLS)

Aircalin retains codeshare agreements with Air France, Air New Zealand, Air Tahiti Nui, Air Vanuatu, Japan Airlines, and Qantas for connectivity beyond current reach.

The airline currently operates a moderate fleet of one Airbus A320neo (with another on order), two Airbus A330-900S, and two DHC-6 Twin Otters.

SB601 diversion

Cyclone Hale's force diverted a Noumea-bound flight from Papeete Faa'a International Airport (PPT) on January 7, causing SB601 to divert to neighboring Nadi International Airport (NAN).

The Airbus A330-900S (registration F-ONET) appears to have remained on the apron in Nadi until January 9, when the aircraft continued onto New Caledonia.

F-ONET joined the airline in September 2019, along with the airline's second A330-900S, F-ONEO​​​​​​. You can learn more about Aircalin's A330s here.

Sources: Radio New Zealand