Air Tahiti Nui
French Polynesia’s national flag carrier is Air Tahiti Nui which holds its headquarters in Papeete, Tahiti. Tahiti is Windward group’s largest island. Its hub is the Faa’a International Airport in Papeete. It has services both for low- and high-end leisure and business travellers.
Air Tahiti Nui is the first international airline based in Tahiti. It was established on 31 October 1996 primarily to develop inbound tourism. Its flight operations however started two years after, on 20 November 1998. Majority of its shares belong to the French Polynesian government which currently holds 61.7% stake, the rest are owned by local investors. It has 782 employees at present.
Worldwide Destinations
Air Tahiti Nui has a fleet size of 5 aircraft (Airbus A340-300) and flies to several international destinations around Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.
It has flight services to Tokyo in Japan (Narita International Airport); Paris in France (Charles de Gaulle International Airport); Los Angeles (Los Angeles International Airport) and New York City in the United States of America (USA); Sydney in Australia (Sydney Airport, seasonal); Auckland in New Zealand (Auckland Airport) and Papeete in Tahiti (Faa’a International Airport).
Club Tiare
Club Tiare is Air Tahiti Nui’s frequent flyer programme. It was established in 1998 to reward its loyal customers. Membership is free of charge, simply fill in an application form and take advantage of bonus miles rewarded to new registrants.
Members get reward points every time they fly with Air Tahiti Nui. Points can be redeemed for free air tickets, class upgrade and additional baggage allowance. It is expanding to accommodate additional worldwide partners and also offers family memberships. Club Tiare members are notified through mail whenever new promotions are available. Application forms are available online.
Airline Partnerships
Air Tahiti Nui has current partnerships with American Airlines and Northwest Airlines. Frequent flyer programme members of the said airlines can redeem and/or accrue miles on Air Tahiti Nui.
Travel Classes and In-Flight Services
Air Tahiti Nui offers three class choices: First Class, Business Class and Coach. Each has distinct qualities and features.
First Class section has fully-reclining ultra-comfortable seats and personal in-flight phones. Entertainment amenities include state of the art video screen where passengers can watch movies, an interesting playlist for those who want to listen to music and even games to enjoy during the flight. Blanket, pyjamas and pillows are also provided for a restful sleep. Gourmet meals highlighting Polynesian and French cuisine are served together with specially selected wines. Special meal requests due to religious and medical reasons can be accommodated provided that the request is made at least 36 hours prior to departure.
The Business Class section serves 24 passengers with its spacious and themed cabin. Its seats have fully adjustable head and leg rests to ensure ultimate comfort and relaxation for the passengers. With the signature Polynesian hospitality, expect five-star service when it comes to world class cuisine and vintage wines. Polynesian and French heritage are evident in Air Tahiti Nui’s meals. Just like in First Class, special meal requests can be accommodated provided that the request is made at least 36 hours prior to departure. For entertainment, business class flyers can choose from a good selection of movies, music and games.
The Coach Class, also known as Moana Class service, can accommodate 264 passengers. They can enjoy amenities such as personal video system, adjustable video screen, movies and interactive games. Moana Class service includes serving of restaurant quality meals prepared by Polynesian and French chefs. Just like the first- and business classes, special meal requests due to medical and religious reasons can be accommodated for Coach Class flyers provided that a request has been made at least 36 hours prior to departure.