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Air Tahiti (Iata code: VT ; OACI code: VTA) is an airline company which operates in French Polynesia. Despite its private company status, it provides a public service mission. Correspondence platform: Tahiti Faa’a Airport.

Air Tahiti Company[link]

Its activities[link]

The primary purpose of Air Tahiti is the scheduled air transportation between the islands of French Polynesia. However, the company provides other activities related to the field of aviation.

Consistent domestic air transportation[link]

From Tahiti, Air Tahiti operates 46 islands of French Polynesia, connecting more than 90% of the population. The company provides administrative, school and medical exchanges between Tahiti and her islands, contributing to the development of the Territory.

Charter flights[link]

To meet specific and selective requests, Air Tahiti charters its aircrafts for the transport of clients and/or goods. For the latter, some ATR can be reconfigured into freighters. The cab is then dissembled, the seats removed to allow the loading of parcels. Thus, Air Tahiti is regularly chartered to transport oysters (from abroad to the islands) or agricultural products (flowers, potatoes, lychees ...).

ATR maintenance[link]

Air Tahiti aircraft maintenance is performed at the Technical Center of the company. The maintenance schedule is based on a basis cycle of 400 hours for ATR. Air Tahiti Technical Center expertise is recognized by the manufacturer and by other companies of the region. Thus, in 2009, Air Tahiti has ensured for Pacific Sun (subsidiary of Air Pacific), majors maintenances operations for their ATR.

Airport assistance for the international stopover[link]

Air Tahiti provides assistance for international airlines serving the airport of Tahiti-Faa’a, by carrying out on their behalf: the check-in and boarding of their passengers and their luggage, the catering, the cabin cleaning, the handling and managing of the international freight.

Air Tahiti capital share[link]

Air Tahiti share capital is 2.76 billion francs XPF.

Subsidiaries and shares[link]

• Air Archipels : 100% of capital
• Air Moorea : 99.98% of capital
• Air Tahiti Real Estate : 100% of capital
• Bora Bora Navettes : 96.86% of capital
• Air Tahiti Nui : 3.56% of capital
• Kia Ora Village : 4.35% of capital

Numbers and financial data[link]

The network[link]

Air Tahiti covers a network of 47 islands in French Polynesia, an area as large as Europe (5.5 million square kilometers. The nearest island, Moorea is 15 km away from Tahiti and is connected by plane in 7 minutes. The furthest one, Mangareva in the Gambier archipelago, is distant of 1600 km from Tahiti and is connected in about 3h30 (non stop flight).

Network map[link]

Check our web site

Flying in French Polynesia[link]

The Polynesian network is quite atypical. Among the 47 runaways, some are made of tar coated while others (particularly the islands of the East Tuamotu archipelagos) are of coral.

Another significant parameter in the organization of the airline service, is the hour of sunset. Indeed, only 11 runaways are equipped with lighting for night access.

For security measure, flying over water implies never fly more than a certain distance from diverting aerodromes. Given this constraint, the path of some flights may not be linear, but a broken line. To overcome this constraint, Air Tahiti had to be certified ETOPS (Extended Twin Operation) on aircraft in its fleet. It is also the first company to have achieved this certification on ATR72.

Islands served on ATR (regular flights only) by Archipelago[link]

Society Islands

• Bora Bora
• Huahine
• Maupiti
• Moorea
• Raiatea
• Tahiti

Tuamotu Archipelago

• Ahe
• Aratika
• Arutua
• Faaite
• Fakarava
• Katiu
• Kauehi
• Kaukura
• Manihi
• Mataiva
• Rangiroa
• Takapoto
• Takaroa
• Tikehau

East Tuamotu-Gambier archipelago

• Anaa
• Hao
• Hikueru
• Mangareva /(Gambier)
• Makemo
• Pukarua
• Raroia
• Reao
• Tatakoto
• Tureia

Marquesas archipelago

• Hiva Oa
• Nuku Hiva

Austral archipelago

• Raivavae
• Rimatara
• Rurutu
• Tubuai

Islands served on Twin Otter (regular flights only) by Archipelago[link]

Marquesas archipelago

• Ua Huka
• Ua Pou

Islands served on Beechcraft or Twin Otter (flights demand) by archipelago[link]

Tuamotu archipelago

• Apataki
• Fakahina
• Fangatau
• Napuka
• Niau
• Nukutavake
• Puka Puka
• Vahitahi

International flight by ATR[link]

• Rarotonga

Fleet[link]

Air Tahiti operates 12 aircrafts (August 2010):

• 7 ATR 72-500
• 3 ATR 42-500
• 1 Beechcraft King B200 Air (leased to Air Archipelago, a subsidiary of Air Tahiti)
• 1 Twin Otter (ownership of French Polynesia)

Fleet policy[link]

Because of the peculiarities of its network, AIR TAHITI has chosen ATR aircraft mainly because it best suits the needs of the company. Capable of serving runaways below 1200 m, the ATR42 and ATR72 offer a service quality similar to the jet and this, with a fuel consumption well below the same class category aircraft, based on 300 knots (550 km / h) cruise speed.

Air Tahiti regularly renews its ATR to maintain a fleet that meets the latest standards of comfort and performance. (In August 2010, 3.6 years on average). It will adopt shortly a new version of the ATR 600 with new engine, new cabin and a new cockpit.

Air Tahiti also operates a Twin Otter, that belongs to the territorial government to link the Marquesas islands of Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Pou and Ua Huka (the latter two can not accommodate ATR) and a King Air B200 from Air archipel serving the Tuamotu Archipelago unserved regularly by ATR.

Characteristics of aircraft[link]

Company history[link]

The story of Air Tahiti is closely linked to the history of aviation in Polynesia.

The debut by seaplane[link]

Far away from continents, Polynesia has long been kept out of the air routes. It is only during the Second World War that aviation took off in earnest with the construction of the first runaway in 1943, in Bora Bora by U.S. forces. In the aftermath of the attack of Pearl Harbor, the Americans intended to protect and supply routes between the U.S. coast and the southwest Pacific.

Regular commercial air service between the islands started in 1950 at the initiative of a handful of entrepreneurs who create the company "Air Tahiti”. The flights are then operated by a 7-seater seaplane, a Grumman Widgeon J-4F. With low capacity, the need for a second device is therefore quickly felt. In 1951, the Ministry of France for the Overseas purchases on behalf of the Territory, a Grumman Mallard. Gradually, Air Tahiti spreads its wings to all the islands of Polynesia. In June 25, 1953, the first landing in the Gambier archipelago takes place. In October 1953, the first flight to the Marquesas islands takes place with a sea-landing at Taiohae / Nuku Hiva.

In July 1953, TAI company (Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux - International Aerial Transports) a commercial exploitation of RAI (Régie Aérienne Interinsulaire – Inter-Island Aerial Board), asserted its rights in the mutual allocation of local transports, under an agreements with AIR FRANCE.

The Territory withdraws the Mallard license to Air Tahiti in favor of TAI. The Air Tahiti brand mark then disappears. RAI operates for the Department of Public Works and Transport. It acquires two Catalina seaplanes to expand links between the islands of French Polynesia. These aircrafts with orange livery received a F-OA registration restricted to aircraft operated overseas.

Gradually, the network continues to expand. In 1955, the Austral archipelagos open to seaplane service with to the opening of Tubuai and Raivavae water bodies. In 1958, the "Régie" becomes "Réseau” (Inter-Island Aerial Network).

The development of runaways[link]

Although seaplanes seem appropriate to the insular context, it is indeed difficult to found large water bodies, unhindered and protected from sea swell. Therefore it becomes necessary to quickly develop runaways and airfields.

With the opening of the Tahiti Faaa international airport in 1960, Tahiti can henceforth hosts international commercial flights. Meanwhile, a vast construction program of runaways is launched by the French Government on the whole territory. Therefore, four runaways are built in the 60’s and 27 the following decade.

Air Polynesia[link]

In 1970, RAI becomes "Air Polynesia", a subsidiary of UTA. Nicknamed "Air Po" by Polynesians, the company asserts more its Polynesian identity and implements regular services throughout French Polynesia and especially to the most remote islands of Tahiti.

Air Tahiti[link]

In 1986, the former UTA (meanwhile absorbed by Air France) sells Air Polynesia shares to local investors. This assignment gives birth in 1986, to "Air Tahiti”, as we know it today. The new company wants to modernize and in 1987, acquires its first ATR 42, marking the beginning of a long collaboration with the aircraft manufacturer ATR.

Accidents[link]

Air Tahiti has coped with one accident since 1987.

On April 18, 1991, approaching the airport of "Nuku A Taha/ Terre Déserte" in Nuku Hiva, Marquesas, following an engine failure, the Dornier 228 F-OHAB flying the route attempted to land near the coast. Ten passengers out of twenty in the aircraft were killed.

Gallery[link]

Links

• Official Air Tahiti Website
• Aircraft manufacturer ATR website
• SEAC State Department of Civil Aviation Website

Notes and references:
1. ↑ "The Fleet" [archive]. Air Tahiti.

• Air Tahiti Magazine N°62
• Air Tahiti Magazine N°66
• Air Tahiti Magazine N°67
• Press Kit Air Tahiti, October 2008
• Press Kit Air Tahiti, May 2009