Fiji Airways has restored direct flights between Nadi and Nouméa, strengthening Fiji’s position as a regional aviation hub and opening new opportunities for tourism, business and wider international connections through Nadi.
The national carrier resumed the service on 22 September, with flights operating every Tuesday and Friday using Fiji Link’s ATR 72-600 aircraft. The route provides more than 10,000 additional seats annually between Fiji and New Caledonia.
Fiji Airways Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Paul Scurrah described the return to New Caledonia as an important milestone for both the airline and the wider Pacific.
“Nadi to Nouméa opens up an exciting new way for our two countries to connect, reinforcing Fiji’s place as the Pacific’s connecting hub,” Mr Scurrah said.
The service is particularly significant for Fiji’s tourism sector. It provides New Caledonian travellers with direct access to Fiji while giving visitors from both markets greater opportunities for two-destination Pacific travel.
Its impact extends well beyond the bilateral route. Travellers from Nouméa can connect at Nadi to Fiji Airways services across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, North America and the wider Pacific, strengthening Nadi International Airport’s role as a connecting point between Pacific markets and major global destinations.
The direct Fiji Airways service to New Caledonia was launched in November 2023 but suspended in 2024 following unrest there. Its restoration comes as connectivity with New Caledonia continues to recover.
Demand is already prompting additional capacity. Fiji Airways is scheduled to introduce a third weekly Nadi–Nouméa flight from 13 December, adding Sunday services to the existing Tuesday and Friday schedule.
The route also creates opportunities for closer business and institutional links. Suva and Nouméa host several important Pacific regional and development organisations, generating regular travel by officials, professionals, consultants and business representatives.
For Fiji, the restoration of another regional route supports the country’s broader role as a centre for Pacific aviation, tourism and business connectivity, while creating another gateway through which visitors and commercial travellers can access Fiji and the airline’s growing international network.
