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Bonjour New Cal: First Qantas direct flights back arrive in Nouméa

The first Qantas flight from Brisbane to Nouméa touched down on Saturday 4 June with QF91 from Sydney to Nouméa restarting on Sunday 5 June 2022.

The first Qantas flight from Brisbane to Nouméa touched down on Saturday 4 June with QF91 from Sydney to Nouméa restarting on Sunday 5 June 2022.

Qantas will initially operate four return flights per week on a Boeing 737-800 between Australia and New Caledonia, with a weekly service between Brisbane and Nouméa (two hours flight time) and three weekly services between Sydney and Nouméa (three hours flight time).

Qantas says customers are using their Nouméa flights to reconnect New Caledonia to the world, with Nouméa passengers this week travelling to/from France, Bali and various points around Australia, including Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Perth and Townsville.

“With the strong demand for international travel, we know that our customers are keen to return to New Caledonia and experience its French flavour.”

“These flights will make it easy for customers to experience the breadth of New Caledonia, with schedules allowing for same-day travel beyond Nouméa to tourist favourites such as the Isle of Pines and Loyalty Islands,” said a Qantas spokesperson.

This year, Qantas is celebrating 80 years of connection with Nouméa, with the first flights taking off in 1942 to support wartime efforts in the Pacific.

It then became a key stop on South Pacific services from 1946, with regular flights operated by Empire flying boats between Sydney and Suva via Brisbane and Nouméa.

Arriving in New Cal

Amedee Lighthouse, New Caledonia
Amedee Lighthouse, New Caledonia

New Caledonia announced in March that it had dropped its quarantine requirements and reopened its borders. From May onwards, fully vaccinated Australians no longer needed to perform a RAT or PCR test prior to travel.

A supervised RAT test is still required 48 hours after arrival in New Caledonia, which can be done for free in pharmacies. Find out more here.

For more, head to www.qantas.com