New Caledonia has extended its suspension of scheduled international air traffic until the end of July.
Noumea airport at La Tontouta New Caledonia Photo: RNZ Walter Zweifel
The government made the decision as the earlier suspension order was due to expire on Sunday.
New Caledonia stopped all commercial flights in March in response to the Covid-19 outbreak which has since been brought under control.
An exemption is being granted for government-sponsored repatriation flights for residents stranded abroad and for flights carried out under the French concept of territorial continuity.
Anyone arriving in New Caledonia has to spend two weeks in government-approved quarantine followed by one week of self-isolation.
The restrictions reflected the demands by mainly Kanak political leaders which France accommodated although they were not aligned with provisions adopted by Paris for all its territories.
Domestic flights resumed earlier this month but a dispute over air fare hikes stopped Air Caledonie's flights between Noumea and Lifou and Mare 10 days ago, with no resolution in sight.
