Air Tahiti Nui Celebrates 25 Years of Flying
On November 20, 2023, the airline will mark its 25th anniversary in the skies. Let's take a look back at the key moments that have contributed to the success of Air Tahiti Nui.
On November 20, 1998, the Polynesian airline transported passengers from Papeete to Los Angeles for the first time. The 186 passengers on this inaugural flight boarded an Airbus A340 with a Polynesian touch, a hallmark of Air Tahiti Nui.
Fast forward 25 years, and Air Tahiti Nui now transports travelers to their dream destinations with a completely renewed fleet since 2019, the Tahitian Dreamliner, featuring fuselages adorned with Polynesian tattoos. Besides providing passenger comfort, the four Boeing B787-9 aircraft, equipped with cutting-edge twin engines, significantly reduce noise pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
The airline continues to prove its reliability and commitment to quality service and looks ahead to the next 25 years, particularly through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. Michel Monvoisin, CEO of Air Tahiti Nui, expresses his enthusiasm, "We celebrate our 25th anniversary with pride: we are grateful to our teams who connect the world and French Polynesia, and, of course, to our loyal customers who choose Air Tahiti Nui to travel to Tahiti and its islands, Seattle, or Los Angeles. We project ourselves into the future with determination and confidence."
Key Milestones for Air Tahiti Nui
- 1998: On November 14, Air Tahiti Nui operates its maiden flight between Papeete and Los Angeles, followed by the opening of the Papeete-Tokyo route on November 22.
- 2000: Launch of the Papeete-Auckland route.
- 2002: Introduction of the Papeete-Paris route.
- 2015: Initiation of CSR policies for more responsible operations.
- 2017: Establishment of the subsidiary TAHITI NUI HELICOPTERS, providing medical evacuations between the islands and offering transfer and discovery flights.
- 2019: Air Tahiti Nui replaces its five Airbus A340 aircraft with four next-generation long-haul Boeing 787-9 jets, reducing CO2 emissions by 25%.
- On March 16, 2020, Flight TN064 from Papeete to Paris, operated by Air Tahiti Nui, sets a record for the longest commercial and domestic flight in history, covering over 130 passengers on a 15,715-kilometer journey. This route is typically served with a stopover in Los Angeles, which was impossible due to pandemic-related restrictions on European travelers by U.S. authorities.
- November 2022: Launch of the new Papeete-Seattle route.
- June 2023: Introduction of the new Paris-Seattle route with a continuation to Papeete.
Air Tahiti Nui in Numbers
- 1,184 commercial flights in 2022, totaling 14,401 flight hours.
- 387,515 passengers transported in 2022, a 109% increase compared to 2021.
- The airline generated a revenue of 26.752 billion Fcfp (224.2 million euros) from passenger traffic in 2022.
- Average load factor of 77%.
-
In 2022, 218,750 tourists visited Tahiti and its islands, marking a 136% increase from 2021, with 86,390 (40%) of them carried by Air Tahiti Nui (+103.6%).
Article By: Gino Giraud