Discover Air Tahiti Nui’s ‘Tahitian Dreamliners’ Connecting Bora Bora And Beyond

American and Alaska Airlines partner Air Tahiti Nui connects Tahiti to the world. The airline offers direct flights between Tahiti and Paris, Los Angeles, Seattle, Auckland, and Tokyo, with a fleet of Tahitian Dreamliners, each with a unique message.

All About Air Tahiti Nui’s Tahitian Dreamliners

The airline recently celebrated its 26th anniversary and operates a fleet exclusively composed of Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which are referred to as the Tahitian Dreamliner. The aircraft are painted in a unique livery that includes the airline’s emblem, the Tiare flower, on the tail. There are tattoos on each side and two red lines representing the country’s flag.

Each of the planes also has a special connection to French Polynesia, a collection of around 120 islands spread across the surface of the ocean in an area the size of Europe. Speaking exclusively to Simple Flying, President Mathieu Bechonnet explained the significance behind the names of each aircraft:

So French Polynesia is pretty big. If you go from the north from the Marquesas Islands down to the Austral Islands.. It’s five archipelagos, and we tend to see Tahiti, Bora Bora, and Moorea, and that’s it.

“So we decided to name each of our aircraft related to the other archipelagos to tell a different story about all the experiences you can have in French Polynesia, which is not limited to Bora Bora. There’s so much more to see.”

When combined, the Dreamliners’s names have an extra hidden meaning: The warrior (TOA) going forward (MUA) in the great (NUI) canoe (VAA).

What is inside the Dreamliners?

Air Tahiti Nui transitioned from a quadjet Airbus A340 aircraft fleet to the Dreamliner at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. For an airline of this size, replacing its entire fleet proved to be more of a restart for the carrier.

The aircraft’s economics allow it to fill routes that do not have enough demand for the largest aircraft, like a Boeing 777 but are distant enough to need the additional range provided by the 787 or Airbus A350. Speaking to Simple Flying, Bechonnet confirmed the airline was also considering the Airbus A350 as a potential fleet replacement but found the Dreamliner ideally suited to Air Tahiti Nui’s network:

“We’re very happy because of the size of the aircraft and the fact that it’s perfectly placed in a one-size-fits-all type of aircraft, especially when you are an airline with a market that is not a mass-market type of tourist.

“When you are based in the south of the Pacific, running those types of volume [less than one million passengers a year] you are looking at aircraft that can make it work on what we call the long and thin route.”

These aircraft are equipped with 294 seats divided into three classes of travel and offer an advanced entertainment system and onboard Wi-fi. In the front of the plane is the Manureva (birds of the travel) business class section that contains 30 seats, which convert into a 77.95-inch long (198cm) bed

The airline installed a premium economy product in recent months. There are 31 seats in Economy premium in a 2-3-2 configuration, with Bechonnet confirming:

“We are also very happy with choosing premium economy.”

The remaining 232 seats are in the Moana economy sections. The fleet is fitted with Z300 ZODIAC Aerospace seats in the Moana Economy cabin, Z535 ZODIAC Aerospace seats in the Moana Premium class, and Parallel Diamond Collins Aerospace seats in the Poerava Business cabin.

Creating a codeshare culture

Air Tahiti Nui faces competition not only from the existing Air Tahiti but also from international airlines looking to connect Tahiti to the US, France, and beyond. In response, the carrier works with oneworld Alliance powerhouses Alaska Airlines and American Airlines on a codeshare basis. This allows frequent flyers with Alaska’s Mileage Plan and American’s AAdvantage frequent flyer miles to redeem points for flights to Tahiti.

In addition to bringing in frequent flyers, the partnerships also help travelers book cash flights that include legs on domestic and international carriers on the same booking. Speaking on the airline’s partnership with Alaska Airlines, Bechonnet highlighted just how significant the carrier’s position in the Pacific Northwest is:

“Alaska is a very interesting partner. They’re very strong. there is no way you can do Seattle or the Pacific Northwest without them. It’s clear they own the place, and they are one of the big movers.”

Air Tahiti Nui initially flew onward from Seattle-Tacoma to Paris but has recently removed the onward connection to focus all of its crew and resources to France through its Los Angeles (LAX) service.

Alaska’s newest acquisition, Hawaiian Airlines, also operates in Tahiti, which is likely to provide even more connection and redemption options in the coming months. When pressed for specifics regarding potential future destinations in the US, Bechonnet said there is more to do, but it all depends on the airline’s international partners.

“Clearly, It’s always about the partnership, and that will dictate the future for us on that. You have to look at which way we go with the partnerships to think about where new destinations could come in the future.”

“The great thing with us is that we are small and we can move fast.”

Another partnership the airline has developed in recent months is with Air Rarotonga, the flag carrier of the Cook Islands. The agreement provides travelers with easier access to multiple islands in the Cook Islands and French Polynesia, with convenient connections through major hubs like Faa’a International Airport in Papeete (PPT) and Rarotonga International Airport (RAR).

Elsewhere, the Polynesian airline was awarded two new titles by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX). The Best In Cabin Service in the South Pacific acknowledges the crews, who are the airline’s face and soul. Air Tahiti Nui also won the 2025 APEX Best In Seat Comfort in the South Pacific for its seats in the colors of the ocean.