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Passenger Information – Flight SB501 Paris–Bangkok–Nouméa

Noumea, 14 September, 5:00 PM

Further to our previous communication regarding flight SB501, originally scheduled to depart Paris CDG on 12 September for Bangkok and onward to Nouméa, we would like to provide you with an update on the situation.

We confirm that flight SB501 has been rescheduled according to the following local times:

• Departure from Kolkata: Monday, 14 September at 11:00 PM
• Arrival in Bangkok: Tuesday, 15 September at 3:05 AM
• Departure from Bangkok: Tuesday, 15 September at 4:35 AM
• Arrival in Nouméa: Tuesday, 15 September at 6:30 PM

We sincerely thank you for your patience and understanding throughout this disruption.

Aircalin

Noumea, 14 September, 12.00 PM

Following our previous communication regarding flight SB501, scheduled to depart Paris CDG on 12 September for Nouméa via Bangkok, we would like to provide you with an update on the situation.

All our teams remain fully mobilized to offer an alternative travel solution as quickly as possible. We are currently working on the rescheduling of the flight, based on timings that are still awaiting approval from the relevant authorities.

The estimated schedule - that are still awaiting approval - is as follows (local times):

• Departure from Kolkata: Monday, 14 September at 11:00 PM
• Arrival in Bangkok: Tuesday, 15 September at 3:05 AM
• Departure from Bangkok: Tuesday, 15 September at 4:35 AM
• Arrival in Nouméa: Tuesday, 15 September at 6:30 PM

Confirmation of these timings is expected by the end of the afternoon, Nouméa time.

We are fully aware of the inconvenience caused by this situation and would like to assure you that we are doing everything possible to enable affected customers to continue their journey under the best possible conditions.

We thank you again for your trust and your understanding. 

Aircalin

Noumea 14sep 1am:

Aircalin would like to provide its passengers with an update regarding flight SB501, departing from Paris-CDG to Bangkok and then Nouméa.

On 12 September, despite of to the absence of overflight restrictions issued by the relevant international authority affecting the New Delhi airspace in connection with the BRICS meeting, Indian Air Traffic Control required the flight to alter its planned route. This diversion resulted in a significant increase in flight time and additional fuel consumption, meaning that the aircraft could no longer reach Bangkok within the required and planned operational and regulatory conditions.

In order to ensure the safety of the flight, the crew therefore proceeded to land the aircraft in Kolkata, the designated alternate airport included in the flight plan.

Once on the ground and after the aircraft had been refuelled, the required regulatory technical maintenance to release the aircraft for the continuation of the flight (“flight release”) could not be carried out, due to the complete absence of an A330-qualified maintenance engineer at the airport to which the flight had been diverted in accordance with the flight plan.

Aircalin immediately initiated efforts to identify and arrange for a qualified maintenance engineer to travel to Kolkata as quickly as possible in order to perform the required technical release. However, these efforts were significantly impacted by the lack of qualified personnel in the area, as well as the actual time required to arrange transportation to Kolkata airport.

These delays were compounded by the regulatory limits applicable to the crew’s flight duty period (TSV), in accordance with the applicable EASA regulations. Once the crew’s maximum permitted duty time had been reached, the only available option was to reschedule the flight.

Immediately following the aircraft’s arrival, Aircalin’s teams contacted the Indian authorities to request official authorisation for passengers to disembark, in order to prepare for all possible eventualities. It took six hours for the Indian authorities to grant authorisation for passengers to leave the aircraft and enter the airport.

Following the authorised disembarkation, Aircalin’s teams continue to assist the affected passengers and are working to arrange their transportation, accommodation and half-board arrangements as quickly as possible, while preparing for the continuation of their journey under the best possible conditions.

Flight SB501 will be able to resume its journey to Bangkok and then Nouméa as soon as all the necessary operational, technical and regulatory conditions have been met.

Aircalin thanks its passengers for their understanding and patience in dealing with this exceptional situation, which is beyond the company’s control.

A further update will be provided as soon as the conditions for the resumption of the flight can be confirmed.