Shocking suspension of Lifou, Mare and Ile des Pins flights

Hello... While Ile des Pins is easily visited by the ferry, I have no clue what to do about Lifou and Mare as Air Caledonie has suspended flights to Lifou, Mare and Ile des Pins apparently due to "l’inaccessibilité de ces aérogares" - have the airports really become inaccessible???!

I am booked to fly to Noumea at the end of September for a week. Does anyone know if the suspension will end on August 10 as is mentioned? Is there any other way to get to Lifou and Mare so I can fit in all 3 Loyalty islands?

Thanks

There are boats to the Loyalty Islands, but not daily like to the Isle of Pines.
So visiting all 3 without flying if you only have a week will probably be impossible.

Here and here you can read, why planes are not going now and why it is completely unsure if there will be flights again after August 10. So better think about a Plan B.

Given the problems with the flights Tickets are selling fast. Also, service can be cancelled due to weather, especially to the Loyalty Islands.

Hi,

Air Caledonie have suspended flights to Lifou and Mare because of local protests that have left 4 people dead. I believe the protests are over an increase in the cost of tickets - making them too expensive for locals.

Last time I was in New Cal I took a ferry from Noumea to Lifou. That ferry went via Mare first, then stopped at Lifou. From memory it was a 5-6 hour trip. The ticket was fairly cheap and I just booked it when I arrived by walking into a local travel agent in Noumea.

The trip was comfortable and a you really get to mix with locals, because so many of them travel on the ferry. The seas weren't big, but I get really sea sick and in hindsight should have taken sea sickness tablets for the trip.

Hope this is helpful.

Whereas the immediate reason for the flight interruptions is indeed related to high living costs there are long-time simmering inter-Kanak tensions in Mare around power and land that contributed to the violent clashes last week.

Seems the riots have flared up again: http://www.einnews.com/oceania/newsfeed-new-caledonia/
And along with the riots an outbreak of Swine Flu has hit the islands: http://www.france24.com/en/20090825-after-riots-new-caledonia-hit-swine-flu-week-france

Edited by: Watsoff

My goodness - although I do think that the Swine Flu report is dated from two years ago, is it not?