October 29, 2026 — Aircalin (SB), the international airline of New Caledonia, expects its first Airbus A350-900 in December, with passenger service starting in January 2027.
What happened
One Mile at a Time reported the plans on October 28. The 325-seat A350 will first fly from Noumea to Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney, then take over the Noumea–Bangkok–Paris route from early April 2027.
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| First A350-900 delivery | December 2026 (expected) |
| Entry into service (Auckland, Brisbane, Sydney) | January 2027; exact first flight date TBA |
| Takes over Bangkok and Paris | Early April 2027 |
| Second A350-900 delivery | Around mid-2028 |
The cabin (325 seats)
- Business: 32 “Business Hibiscus Suite” seats in a 1-2-1 layout, including four Extra Comfort suites in the first row.
- Premium economy: 24 seats, 2-4-2.
- Economy: 269 seats, 3-3-3, including 27 Preferential, 8 Comfort and 6 Extra Comfort seats.
Fleet
Aircalin now flies two A330-900neos and two A320neos. After the second A350 arrives, it plans to sell one A330neo, leaving two A350-900s, one A330neo and two A320neos. The airline dropped its Japan flights after tourism fell in 2024 and launched Noumea–Paris via Bangkok.
What it means for travelers
- Bigger aircraft to Australia and New Zealand. From January 2027 the A350 brings 325 seats to Noumea’s Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney routes, which can mean more open seats on a small airline’s busiest flights.
- Paris via Bangkok gets the new jet in April 2027. On a long route served by a small fleet, a single aircraft swap matters. Check the schedule for the changeover.
- For enthusiasts: Aircalin’s fleet is only four modern aircraft today, so the A350 is a big step for the airline.
Sources
- One Mile at a Time — Aircalin Airbus A350-900 Joins Fleet Soon, With New Business Class Suites
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