Aircalin's first A350-900 emerges from Toulouse paint shop

Aircalin's first Airbus A350-900 has been photographed in Toulouse, France, newly finished in the airline's colorful livery. The aircraft is one of two A350-900s the New Caledonia-based carrier has on order with Airbus.

Airbus disclosed the order in December 2024, though it had previously appeared in the manufacturer's order book under an undisclosed customer. The disclosure coincided with the launch of Aircalin's route linking Noumea and Paris Charles de Gaulle via Bangkok, which began in December 2024 and is currently flown with Airbus A330-900neo aircraft.

The new A350s are expected to become the primary aircraft for that long-haul service. The first jet is due for delivery to Aircalin toward the end of 2026, with the second following in 2027 or 2028, according to the airline's plans as described in the report.

Aircalin's current fleet includes two A330-900neos used on long-haul flights and two A320neos for regional South Pacific routes. The airline has said the arrival of the A350s will double its long-haul capacity, a change that could open the door to additional long-haul destinations beyond the current Paris service.

The A350-900s are to be fitted with a three-class layout seating 325 passengers in total: 32 in a business class the airline calls Hibiscus, 24 in premium economy, and 269 in economy.