New Caledonia reopening airport and shortening curfew as unrest continues to ebb

The French Pacific territory of New Caledonia is shortening its overnight curfew and reopening its international airport (Nicolas Job/AP)

The French Pacific territory of New Caledonia is shortening its overnight curfew and reopening its international airport which has been closed to commercial flights for more than a month because of deadly violence that wracked the archipelago where pro-independence indigenous Kanaks want to break from France.

La Tontouta airport that links New Caledonia’s capital, Noumea, with Sydney, Tokyo, Singapore and other Pacific hubs will reopen on Monday, the territory’s high commissioner, Louis Le Franc, said on Sunday.