Australia-based budget airline, Virgin Blue, has applied to the International Air Services Commission to operate services to New Caledonia.
Virgin wants to take over a passenger service licence given last year to a freight airline, Transpac, which it has not used.
Virgin Blue's head of commercial operations, David Huttner, says they hope the International Air Services Commission, which meets on Friday, will agree that Virgin has the bigger potential to provide public benefit.
Virgin Blue's New Caledonia application comes after it was granted rights to fly to New Zealand, Fiji and Vanuatu in July.