Yes, you can smoke at La Tontouta International Airport (NOU) in two places: outdoors in the public zone landside, outside the terminal, and — for international departures only — in a designated smoking area in the international departure lounge on the second floor, airside. The rest of the terminal, including the domestic departure lounge, is smoke-free.
How La Tontouta International Airport Is Laid Out
NOU is New Caledonia’s sole international airport, a single terminal in the municipality of Païta about 37 km northwest of Nouméa, operated by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New Caledonia (CCI Nouvelle-Calédonie) and split into a domestic zone and an international zone.
Where to Smoke Outside the Terminal
The airport’s own guidance states that the terminal interior is strictly non-smoking throughout, and smoking is permitted outdoors in the public zone, before check-in. This is the only option for domestic passengers and for anyone who hasn’t yet checked in for an international flight.
International Departure Lounge
A designated smoking area is available in the international departure lounge, on the second floor. It is the one airside smoking option at NOU, reserved for passengers who have cleared security and immigration on an international departure.
Domestic Departures
The airport’s own guidance states plainly that the domestic zone has no smoking area available. Domestic passengers have no airside smoking option at any point — the landside public zone before check-in is the only choice.
E-Cigarettes and Vaping
The airport publishes no separate rule for e-cigarettes on its own site. In practice, that leaves the same two options as cigarettes: the outdoor public zone landside, or the designated smoking area in the international departure lounge for passengers who have already cleared security.
Summary
| Area | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Terminal interior (general) | No | Strictly non-smoking throughout, per the airport’s own guidance |
| Outside the terminal (public zone) | Yes | Landside, before check-in — the only option for domestic passengers |
| International departure lounge (2nd floor) | Yes | Designated smoking area, airside, international departures only |
| Domestic departure zone | No | No smoking area available past check-in |
| Vaping / e-cigarettes | Same as cigarettes | No separate airport rule published |
For onward Pacific connections, our guide to smoking during layovers covers how to judge whether a stopover leaves enough time to use an airside smoking area before boarding.
For New Caledonia airport smoking rules and every other New Caledonia airport, see our New Caledonia airport smoking guide.