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Air Tahiti Nui accepts maiden B787 Dreamliner
October 12th 2018
Boeing, Air Lease Corp. (ALC) and Air Tahiti Nui this week celebrated the delivery of the airline's first Boeing jet, a B787-9, on lease from ALC. Read More » The B787 will replace the carrier’s ageing A340-300 fleet on flights connecting its Papeete base with Paris, Tokyo and Los Angeles.
The B787-9 has a range of up to 7,635 nautical miles (14,140 km) and reduces fuel burn and emissions by 20%-25% “compared with older airplanes”, said Boeing.
Air Tahiti Nui configured its new B787 with 294 seats across three classes. The cabin has 30-seat lie flat business class and 32 and 32 premium economy seats.
“Our dream has finally become reality with the arrival of Air Tahiti Nui's first 787-9 Dreamliner,” said Air Tahiti Nui chairman and CEO, Michel Monvoisin. “The Tahitian Dreamliner will make flying to one of the world's treasures an unforgettable experience, as we introduce new seats and a culturally inspired cabin on the 787. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary this year, the 787 Dreamliner will guide us towards another successful 20 years and beyond.”
In 2015, Air Tahiti Nui announced it would lease two B787s from ALC and purchase two B787s directly from Boeing. French Polynesian president, Edouard Fritch, and other government dignitaries joined the airline in celebrating the milestone delivery at Boeing's South Carolina delivery centre.
“We are honored to welcome Air Tahiti Nui as a new Boeing customer and the latest member of the 787 Dreamliner family. We are confident the airplane's market-leading efficiency and unmatched passenger comforts will transform the airline's operation,” said senior vice president of commercial sales and marketing for The Boeing Company, Ihssane Mounir. “This delivery opens a new partnership between Boeing and Air Tahiti Nui and demonstrates the strength of our partnership with ALC.”
In addition to Air Tahiti Nui, Noumea-headquartered Aircalin has firmed up an order for two A330-900neo and two single aisle A320neo. The carrier told Orient Aviation the four on-order neo aircraft will replace its A330ceo and A320ceo fleet one-for-one. The airline said the A330neo will be delivered in May and July 2019, respectively. The smaller A320neo will arrive sequentially at the carrier in May 2020 and February 2021.
Aircalin’s A330neo will be powered by Rolls-Royce’s Trent 7000s with 26 seats in “Hibiscus Class” business class, 21 in premium economy and 244 in economy. The aircraft will fly Noumea-Narita “between five and seven times a week” and Noumea and Osaka twice a week “depending on the season”, Aircalin told Orient Aviation.
United Airlines will return to Tahiti for its latest overseas route on October 30. The Star Alliance founding carrier will fly three times a week between its San Francisco hub and French Polynesia’s capital, Papeete. The airline will use B787 widebody aircraft on the route, which will take approximately 8 hours.
The San Francisco-Papeete launch is part of a recent international expansion at the carrier that shows no signs of letting up. In addition to multiple new destinations in Europe, United will add a second daily Singapore-San Francisco B787 Dreamliner service on October 27, replacing the carrier’s existing Los Angeles-Singapore frequency.
