Aircalin
, a New Caledonia, an overseas territory of France-based airline, has been unveiled as a customer for two Airbus A350-900 aircraft, doubling its Airbus-only long-haul fleet to expand its network.
Flying to Paris
Georges Selefen, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Aircalin, remarked that the airline has continued its long-standing partnership with Airbus
with the latest order for a pair of A350-900s, which will join its fleet in the coming years. The statement did not disclose the exact delivery dates for the widebody jets.
However, Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes (LNC), the local daily newspaper, reported that Airbus would deliver the aircraft at the end of 2026 and in 2028.
“These aircraft are essential for operating our recently inaugurated Nouméa-Paris via Bangkok route. They will open the doors to very long-haul flights and enable Aircalin to pursue its development strategy.”
Aircalin announced the flights between Nouméa – La Tontouta International Airport (NOU) and Paris Charles De Gaulle Airport
(CDG) via Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) in September.
Photo: viper-zero | Shutterstock
Data from the aviation analytics company Cirium showed that the filed block time for the France-bound route was 1,540 minutes (25.6 hours), while the New Caledonia-bound itinerary had a block time of 1,440 minutes (24 hours). Both block times include stops in Bangkok, Thailand.
The New Caledonian carrier currently operates two A330-900
aircraft, which Airbus delivered in August 2019 and October 2019. Compared to the A330-900s, the airline will equip its A350-900s with 15% more seats, including more business class suites.
Related
26 Hours On An Airbus A330neo: Aircalin Will Launch Direct Flights To Paris In December
The carrier has also quietly confirmed an order for a pair of A350s, which it hopes to receive in 2026 and 2028 for use on the Paris service.
Airbus A350 versus Boeing 787
In a previous interview with LNC in December 2023, Selefen teased that the airline wanted to operate a direct flight from Nouméa to Paris-Charles De Gaulle, which was currently impossible with the A330-900’s range limitations.
Then, the CEO said that the airline could begin flying direct flights in 2026 and that the airline had been working with Airbus and “other aircraft manufacturers” to enable the non-stop itinerary on the route.
Photo: Aircalin
Selefen continued that he foresaw Aircalin ordering either the A350 or the Boeing 787
without specifying the variant, with both aircraft enabling the carrier to operate a zero-stop flight to Paris.
Related
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.
Undisputed long-range aircraft leader
Benoit de Saint-Exupery, the executive vice president of Sales of Airbus Commercial Aircraft, added that the manufacturer was pleased with Aircalin’s order. The A350-900 will enable the carrier to open up more long-haul routes.
“The order is yet another endorsement of the A350 as the undisputed long-range leader, bringing fuel efficient service on some of the world’s longest networks, while offering passengers the highest levels of comfort.”
While Airbus’ phrasing was that Aircalin “disclosed” the order, it was not immediately clear whether the deal was already included in the manufacturer’s orders and delivery data.
The filings showed that as of November, five undisclosed or private customers had ordered A350-900s, totaling 16 units. In February, one unidentified airline purchased two A350-900 aircraft.
Photo: Markus Mainka | Shutterstock
Other undisclosed orders include one aircraft of the type (added on June 28), three A350-900 (private customer, August 21), five A350-900 and A350-1000
each (September 5), and five A350-900 on November 27.
The ten A350 aircraft-strong order could be attributed to Air India’s recently unveiled massive order for Airbus aircraft. On December 9, the plane maker disclosed that the Indian carrier added another 100 aircraft to its order book, including 15 A320neo
, 75 A321neo
, five A350-900, and five A350-1000, with the final composition of the order remaining unconfirmed.
Related
Airbus Discloses Air India Order For 10 A350s & 90 A320 Family Planes
With the latest order, Air India now has 344 Airbus aircraft in its backlog, in addition to 220 pending deliveries (and 70 options) from Boeing.
