Air New Zealand pauses Auckland-Nouméa service due to civil unrest

Air New Zealand is pausing its Auckland to Nouméa service until the end of September due to ongoing civil unrest in New Caledonia. Services will stop from today until September 28, 2024. Air New Zealand general manager short-haul Jeremy O’Brien said the continued closure of the airport and ongoing uncertainty has made it challenging to continue operations in New Caledonia in the short term. “We understand that this will be disappointing for customers who have travel plans to and from Nouméa and we apologise for the disruption this causes. It’s not a decision we have taken lightly, and we’re committed to returning to Nouméa after 28 September.” Riots erupted in the South Pacific archipelago after French lawmakers approved changes to the French Constitution allowing residents who have lived in New Caledonia for 10 years to vote in provincial elections. Customers booked directly with Air New Zealand to travel to Nouméa will have their flights automatically held in credit. Due to limited options and continued uncertainty in the region, customers will not be rebooked on flights to Nouméa via alternative services. Customers can also opt to receive a full refund on their booking.<br/>