New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands province has unveiled plans to set up a regional low-cost airline.
Photo: lenor/123RF
The assembly has asked the provincial development agency Sodil to draw up a business plan for the proposed Air Oceania in view of attracting investors.
The province's president Jacques Lalie said during his recent visit to France he was in touch with the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, which would demonstrate its A220 plane at Noumea's international airport in the first week of November.
Mr Lalie said the project was not directed against Air Caledonie or Aircalin, which are the territory's domestic and international airlines.
The plan was to add services for locals and boost the tourism potential of the Loyalty Islands.
Reports suggest the airline would fly to Vanuatu, Fiji, New Zealand, Australia and French Polynesia.
It has also been announced that the province will next month sign a deal with the hotel chain InterContinental for it to run several resorts on Lifou, Mare and Ouvea.