As if the gorgeous Islands of Tahiti weren’t enough in and of themselves to steal your clients away from their everyday life, there’s new air that might make the trip even more tempting.
It might seem like a far-flung destination, but the Islands of Tahiti are only eight hours by air from California. And getting there just got a little bit easier: Starting this month, low-cost carrier French bee will fly nonstop San Francisco (SFO) to Papeete (PPT). In October, United Airlines will offer a nonstop flight from SFO, and Air Tahiti Nui will launch an entirely new fleet of Dreamliners from its normal LAX route.
French bee is adding an 8-hour non-stop route on Saturdays and Mondays in low season and will add a Thursday flight to the schedule during the peak season. United flights will begin service on Oct. 30, 2018 and will fly SFO to PPT three times weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Air Tahiti Nui will replace its entire long-haul fleet with four new Boeing 787-9 aircraft; delivery is expected to begin during the fourth quarter of 2018. Additionally, as always, children (11 and under) fly free with the full price of an adult ticket.
All incoming flights, incidentally, arrive at Faa’a International Airport (PPT), located near the city of Papeete on the main island of Tahiti. The airport is close and convenient to all the major hotels and resors on Tahiti, and features one VIP lounge, retail space, cafes, grab-and-go options and convenience stores. The airport has begun a $12 million expansion and renovation project that is due to be completed in 2020. At the end of last year, a new international boarding area and premium lounge opened, as well as a brand-new contemporary Polynesian-designed baggage claim area with two baggage beltways and a duty free shop. The project will allow the airport to accommodate three departures of up to 950 passengers at any given time. The expansion also includes an extended public hall with new retail space, shops and restaurants.
For more information, visit tahiti-tourism.com.
