24 Jan 2012

Subsidy cut affects New Caledonia air travel

6:51 pm on 24 January 2012

Figures in New Caledonia show that the change of eligibility for subsidised air travel to France has led to a 75 percent drop in demand for special fares.

The programme, which is means tested, has been in place to facilitate New Caledonians' links with France.

Noumea's daily newspaper reports that last year both Air France and Air Austral registered a sharp decline in the sale of tickets at concessionary rates over 2010, from 11,000 to 3,000.

It says the change has meant the growth in traveller numbers from Noumea to Paris stalled