New Caledonia is so close to Australia it should be a more popular destination, especially considering the way its airline impresses.
Flight SB140, Noumea to Sydney aboard an Airbus A330-900NEO operated by Aircalin, This is the main airline of New Caledonia, the French territory under 2000 kilometres north-east of Sydney. I’m travelling in Hibiscus class with the flight departing at 10.30am from Noumea, the diminutive New Caledonian capital. Scheduled flight is three hours, 15 minutes. Aircalin, which has just turned 40, operates daily flights between Noumea and Sydney on a codeshare basis with Qantas.
Hibiscus class passengers are allowed two pieces at 23 kilograms each – generous for people holidaying in semi-tropical New Caledonia, though no doubt perfect for New Caledonians and French expats returning to and from France.The HD LED touchscreen size measures 15.6 inches with the in-flight entertainment system offering an extensive choice of first-run and classic films and TV shows in French and English with some subtitled.