New Caledonia’s Aircalin has taken delivery of their first of two Airbus A330neo aircraft on order, during a delivery ceremony held in Toulouse, France.
The aircraft, registered F-ONEO serial number 1937, will be used to replace Aircalin’s existing fleet of A330-200s; with the second A330-900neo not far away.
Cabin
Aircalin has opted for a three-class layout for their fleet of Airbus A330neos totalling 291 seats, which is 25 more than their A330-200s.
| Cabin | Seat Count |
| Business | 26 |
| Premium Economy | 21 |
| Economy | 244 |
Across all the cabins high-speed internet is available, thanks to the Wi-Fi system installed on the aircraft.
Economy
With its 244 seats, Economy Class boasts a seat pitch of 31″ and a 14.6 degree seat recline.
For entertainment, Aircalin has chosen an 11.1″ HD LED touch display for each passenger; with more than 150 programs available, including: the latest films or classic movies, several TV series, music, documentaries and games. Two new features are the 3D interactive map and access to the external camera.
Other useful features include:
- A USB socket to recharge your electronic devices
- A 110-volt outlet for two seats
- The possibility of using your own headphones
Premium Economy
Configured in a 2-3-2 layout, Aircalin’s Premium Economy allows three rows of passengers to comfortably enjoy flights to their destinations. The 21 seats installed come with a 38″ seat pitch and an 18.1 degree recline. A reading light and a footrest are also available for additional comfort.
A slight upgrade over economy, the entertainment system is still a HD LED touch display, however it is sized at 13.3″ and comes with a remote control. An individual e-reader is also offered.
The same USB socket, 110-volt power outlet and headphone flexibility is available in premium economy.
Business
Reflecting the subtle colors of corral, Aircalin has elected to go with a beige, white and grey theme for their Business Class cabin. The removal of the central overhead baggage bins adds to the airy feeling of the cabin.
Depending on which seat you get, the seat pitch is either 49″ or 50″. Either way, all of the Business seats offer a full-flat recline, allowing for a great sleep on the way to your destination.
A beefy 15.6″ HD LED entertainment display, with remote control, allows you to enjoy the same content available across Premium and Economy from your desired recline.
If you’d like to get some work done or watch from your own device, each Business passenger has access to a 110-volt and USB power outlet.
Destinations
Powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and featuring the latest in aerodynamic advancements for the A330; Aircalin will see a 25% reduction in fuel burn, compared to previous generation aircraft of the same category.
As a result of these savings, Aircalin will be using the aircraft to connect the French Pacific Island territory with markets in Japan, Australia and the Pacific Island nations more efficiently.
Routes Online and One Mile at a Time notes Aircalin will fly to the following destinations:
- Noumea to Tokyo Narita as of December 1st 2019, 5x weekly
- Noumea to Osaka as of December 2nd 2019, 2x weekly
- Noumea to Sydney as of December 3rd 2019, 2x weekly
- Noumea to Papeete as of December 7th 2019, 1x weekly
To watch their first A330neo be put together, check out Airbus’ video here: