Air Tahiti Nui and Aircalin: new aircraft, new classes

Boeing for one, Airbus for the other: there is movement in air transport in the French Pacific with the delivery of new aircraft for both carriers, Air Tahiti Nui and Aircalin. Air Tahiti Nui is the first to bring into service the first of its four Boeing 787-900s, which will replace its entire fleet of Airbus A330s by August.
For Michel MonvoisinThe Boeing 787-900 Dreamliner was the perfect choice for the airline's very long-haul, geographically dispersed network. " We wanted aircraft with appropriate capacities, around 300 seats. But the Airbus A350, with its 360 seats, is positioned more as a competitor to the Boeing 777. This would mean that it would be difficult to make our flight on the A350 profitable. Tokyo with 50 extra places "he explains.

The aircraft is also particularly fuel-efficient, achieving a savings of 30% compared with the current Airbus A330s. " It's a powerful argument at a time when our customer base, 80% of which is made up of leisure travellers, is particularly vulnerable. sensitive to pricing "he adds.

The Tahitian Dreamliner has given the airline the opportunity to overhaul its classes, in particular with the introduction of a Premium Economy class in response to strong passenger demand. According to Michel Monvoisin, passengers put off by the price of business class now benefit from a new Premium Economy class. more comfortable alternative than the economy cabin. " Our Moana Premium Economy, with more space and a better reclining seat, is perfectly suited to this requirement. We have 32 seats in this class and I have to admit that I'm surprised by its reception, as it already fills up a year in advance. "Michel Voisin enthuses.

La business class has also been refurbished, offering 30 reclining bed seats that recline 180 degrees and are two metres long, and very large video screens offering interconnectivity with tablets and personal laptops. In addition, the wifi is available throughout the aircraft. Both products are particularly popular on the Paris-Los Angeles where there is strong business demand.

In a few months' time, it will be Aircalin's turn to offer a product more in line with current international standards. Between now and July, the carrier will put its first Airbus A330-900neo aircraft into service. The reconfigured cabin will also include 21 seats in Premium Economy, located between the 26-seat Hibiscus Business Class and the 244-seat Economy Class. Premium Eco is equipped with seats offering a standard spacing of 96 cm, a recline of 15.1 degrees and excellent seating comfort. In Business class, the airline is really moving upmarket with a seat that converts into a flat bed, unlike the current version of the seat in Hibiscus class. The wifi will also be offered in all classes.

The new aircraft will be in service not only in France but also in Japan.
With two very high-quality products, is it possible that the two French Pacific airlines could strengthen their cooperation by jointly operating new routes, particularly in China? " We are looking at other routes, but we are facing a problem beyond our control: the lack of reception facilities in French Polynesia with only 2,700 rooms in less than 50 classified hotels. As for the joint operation of routes with Aircalin, we are 5,000 km apart with a fairly divergent network of services. But we are cooperating through a code-share agreement and the possibility of connecting our flights in Auckland, New Zealand. "says Michel Monvoisin.