In mid-July, Air Tahiti resumed its scheduled flights between mainland France and French Polynesia. These flights take a different route, as they now transit via Vancouver. Mathieu Bechonnet, Executive Vice-President of Air Tahiti Nui, explains the particular challenges facing the airline.
Air Tahiti Nui has just resumed its scheduled services between Paris and Papeete. What are the main challenges - operational, psychological or external - facing the airline in the post-Covid era?
Mathieu Bechonnet- We have resumed our flights in mid-July with a range of challenges. The local population is already facing a psychological challenge. In the history of French Polynesia, the arrival of the French was accompanied by the introduction of viruses that decimated the Polynesian population. This period left us with a heightened sense of sensitivity and anxiety, which we had to incorporate into our recovery strategy. Covid-19 in Polynesia has been very well controlled. No deaths due to the pandemic have been recorded to date. Health protocols are therefore very strict, with two tests carried out on 100% passengers, on departure from Paris and on arrival in Papeete.
A operational challenge is the closure of US airspaceThis means that we have to find alternatives. Finally, our geographical remoteness means that our business is based on a few markets, many of which, such as Australia, New Zealand and Japan, keep their borders closed.
What is the outlook for traffic recovery? How long will it take for traffic levels to return to 2019 levels?
Mathieu Bechonnet- Our geographical remoteness is certainly a challenge, but it's also a strength for our business. The affinity market and a business market made up of government and official institutions give us a certain visibility for our business. The affinity markets on the Paris-Tahiti route represent 20% a 30% of the figure and we expect them to remain very important for Air Tahiti Nui. It's very difficult to give forecasts because there is still uncertainty about a second wave of the pandemic, particularly in winter. We think that the crisis is likely to continue for a year and that we will only be able to cover 30% of our business. Only the discovery of a vaccine will bring a substantial improvement.
Is Air Tahiti planning to resume its Paris-Tahiti flights via Los Angeles once the American skies reopen?
Mathieu Bechonnet- The American market represented our second most important market, not only between Paris and the West Coast, but also between California and Tahiti. The pandemic is currently virulent on the West Coast and transits via Los Angeles are prohibited. As an alternative, we are transiting via Vancouver, where we own the traffic rights. This is not to the displeasure of passengers, who find the transit conditions more pleasant than in the United States. As soon as the conditions for reopening are right, we'll be back in Los Angeles. because that's where we have the greatest traffic potential. But we're not closing the door on a future Paris-Vancouver-Tahiti scheduled service in the long term.
What's happening on other markets?
Mathieu Bechonnet- We're hoping to be part of a Pacific travel bubble between Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia. But the resurgence of the epidemic in Melbourne has already pushed back the idea of a travel corridor between Australia and New Zealand. We would prefer to obtain authorisation to re-serve Japan, as the potential is greater. We are discussing this with the Japanese authorities.
Does Air Tahiti Nui receive aid from the French government or from the Polynesian government?
Mathieu Bechonnet- We are working to obtain more active support from our governments. We are in discussions with our two senators representing Polynesia to ensure that the territory is also taken into account in regional funding. By being the airline of French Polynesia, however, we were not eligible for the short-time working measures compensated by the government. As a result, our cash flow, which was good, even very good, has been damaged by covid. We've got a huge financial hole that we'll struggle to fill.
What health safety measures has the company adopted?
Mathieu Bechonnet- We are constantly adapting our product to continue to combine barrier measures, strict hygiene and quality comfort on board. Masks must be worn throughout the journey, and toilets are disinfected several times during the flight. Hydro-alcoholic gels are also available. For on-board service, meal presentations have been simplified to make service quicker. We are now working on new fabrics for quilts and blankets, using more noble and waterproof materials. Our lounges have reopened. However, we have suspended duty-free sales on board, as well as the distribution of newspapers and magazines.
