15 May 2020

Fare protest shuts New Caledonia airport

12:36 pm on 15 May 2020

The airport of Lifou has been blocked by traditional leaders in protest at Air Caledonie raising its fares.

The action was foreshadowed yesterday when the chiefs of the Wetr district rejected the hike of almost $US7 for a Lifou to Noumea return ticket.

Air Caledonie cancelled all of its Lifou flights until further notice.

Air Caledonie aircraft at Noumea's Magenta'Airport

Air Caledonie aircraft at Noumea's Magenta'Airport Photo: RNZ Pacific/Walter Zweifel

Local media reports said the head of the airline Samuel Hnepeune was on site to discuss the situation.

Services resumed last week after a relaunch of flights had been deferred by two weeks because of fears that Covid-19 could spread from the Noumea area.

Air Caledonie is estimated to have incurred losses of $US5 million because of the Covid-19 induced shutdown.