Magenta Airport, Noumea: Blockades and industrial action have grounded flights across New Caledonia. Photo / Gerard, CC
Magenta Airport, Noumea: Blockades and industrial action have grounded flights across New Caledonia. Photo / Gerard, CC
All flights into and out of the capital of New Caledonia have been grounded by industrial action and strikes that in some areas have turned violent.
Blockades erected at Nomea’s Tontouta Airport have led to its closure, with services grounded until at least 5pm today. A statement for national carrier Aircalin says services today for Auckland, Sydney, and Fiji have all been cancelled pending developments.
“Rescheduling information will be posted on our website as soon as possible,” the airline said.
“We regret any inconvenience caused.”
A general strike was called by the USTKE union and demonstrations were against a proposed constitutional change from Paris. New Caledonia, a French overseas territory some 19,000km from the Metropole, was anticipating large demonstrations from tens of thousands of pro-independence supporters ahead of a scheduled vote on the Constitutional Amendment Bill on Tuesday.
“Due to the announced blockage of Moue Airport, all flights to and from Isle of Pines scheduled on Tuesday, May 14, are cancelled,” it said in a statement, adding that affected passengers had been notified.
“The airline remains attentive to the evolution of the situation and strives to communicate the consequences of this beyond the event as soon as it is possible.”
Tourists on the island reported seeing burning tyres and hearing explosions, after what had begun as initially peaceful protests.
Mike Lightfoot, a New Zealand national visiting Noumea, told Newstalk ZB said the unrest got more serious.
“There were major roadblocks, fires everywhere,” he said. “It’s pretty unsettled in Noumea at the moment.”
Visiting with his wife, they had been told their flights back to Auckland had been cancelled.
“We’re just going to sit here and wait for it to play out, whether that’s hours or days.”
Burning tyres and Kanak flags on a road in Noumea, New Caledonia, as the country experiences widespread rioting. Photo / Campbell Ross
New Caledonia tourism industry, travel agents advise patience
The national tourism board said it was working to find transport for stranded tourists and were postponing marketing and tours during the unrest.
“These events have resulted in temporary disruptions to certain transport and road links, primarily affecting services to secondary islands like Lifou and Ile des Pins, with airports and ports temporarily blocked,” New Caledonia Tourism said.
A spokesperson for the board said, “we deeply regret any inconvenience caused by this situation and are collaborating closely with local partners to explore alternative transport solutions for stranded travellers. However, as a precautionary measure, we advise tourists to limit their travel at this time.”
They advised tourists to observe the curfew in place from 6pm to 6am until Wednesday, May 15.
Brent Thomas, chief operating officer for House of Travel, said that the disruptions were expected to have a long tail for air links into Noumea.
“It’s certainly a dynamic situation that is affecting a number of New Zealanders who are [in New Caledonia] for holidays,” he told Newstalk ZB.
Thomas said it was unsettling for travellers to New Caledonia but “travel agents were well used to dealing with these sorts of situations and dealing with suppliers”.
Clearing the backlog of travellers into New Zealand and Nomea airports would be a challenge, with full flights into the winter sun season.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was aware of 31 New Zealanders who had registered on the SafeTravel website, who were being provided assistance and advice.
“New Zealanders in New Caledonia are advised to avoid all protests and demonstrations, as even those intended to be peaceful have the potential to turn violent,” an MFAT spokesperson said. “New Zealanders are also advised to monitor local media for developments and comply with any instructions and restrictions issued by the local authorities.”
Any New Zealanders travelling to or from Noumea are also advised to check with their airline before heading to the airport.
The French High Commission to New Caledonia issued a statement condemning the blockades of streets and public airports and praised the work of the national gendarmerie forces.
After what the commissioner called a night of “public disorder of a great intensity” the office has urged those in New Caledonia to stay at home and limit going outside in the hours to come.
The sale of alcohol and public gatherings have been suspended on New Caledonian territory on Tuesday and Wednesday.
