In an interview with AeroNewsX, Air Tahiti Nui CEO, Michel Monvoisin, explained that while at the moment the carrier isn't able to grow, its future may see a possible Boeing 777X or Airbus A350ULR order.
During the interview, the CEO was asked about possible direct flights to Europe, namely France. Currently, Air Tahiti Nui offers one-stop flights from Papeete to Paris via Los Angeles.
“We are looking at what’s happening with Qantas and Singapore Airlines [just] to be sure if it’s not the aircraft. It’s not the range, it’s the passenger comfort. We know that for the Singapore, we know they don’t have any economy class on this very long haul flight [referring to the Singapore to Newark service with the A350-900ULR].”
Qantas is currently looking at operating direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to London directly, with the Boeing 777X as one of the possibilities. The CEO said that while it is ‘interesting’, Air Tahiti Nui are simply ‘too small for that kind of experience’.
However, Monvoisin added that ‘one day probably we will do it’.
In the interview, Michel Monvoisin said that at the moment, Air Tahiti Nui is facing a lack of capacity at hotels in Tahiti. This has forced it to pull back its expansion plans for this year, meaning while it continues with its replacement program, phasing the Airbus A340 out in favour of the Boeing 787, new destinations are only expected in ‘two, three years’ time.
Air Tahiti Nui is, as mentioned, retiring its fleet of Airbus A340s. The carrier had 5 in total, with one being used as a spare aircraft and sometimes being leased to its Australia-Pacific-based counterparts, such as Air Calin. However, the need and profitability of the extra aircraft was questioned, and Air Tahiti ordered 4 787-9s to replace the 5 A340s.
The last Airbus A340 is expected to leave the fleet later this year, when Air Tahiti Nui takes delivery of the final remaining Boeing 787-9 it has on order. Earlier this month, the French Polynesian carrier took delivery of its third ‘Dreamliner’.
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