Expect to be infused with the calming influence of French Polynesia’s lagoons long before you arrive when Air Tahiti Nui’s new Boeing 787 Dreamliners start taking to the skies later this year.
Images of the airline’s striking new livery and the plane’s interior, released ahead of the first service between Papeete and Auckland on November 8, show how both pay homage to the South Pacific seas and skies.
The new livery keeps the white tiare flower that has adorned the tails of Air Tahiti Nui aircraft since it started flying in 1998 and includes three shades of blue inspired by the Tahitian ocean, sky and lagoons.
A tattoo emblazoned on the hull includes ripples on the water, flocks of birds and symbolic creatures such as a manta ray (wisdom), a whale (strength and abundance) and an albatross (freedom).
Inside, the aircraft’s three cabins will have 30 business class, 32 premium economy and 232 economy seats.
Read our ratings for Air Tahiti Nui.
The Poerava Business Rockwell Collins Diamond seats will be in a 2-2-2 configuration with a 60-inch seat pitch the ability to transform into a 78-inch lie-flat bed. The airline says each seat is equipped with a” luxurious cushion and cover comfort system for restful travel” as well as an individual touchscreen remote control, personal lighting and privacy divider.
Onboard amenities include a thick duvet, a big pillow and a luxury kit of accessories.
The new Moana premium economy will come with 32 Z535 Zodiac Aerospace seat that in a 2-3-2 configuration. The seats are a comfortable 20.5 inches wide with a seat pitch of 38 inches with a generous recline of 20cm that cradles the passenger. Onboard amenities in this cabin include a polar blanket, a big pillow and an accessories kit.
The 232 Z300 Zodiac seats in economy will be in a 3-3-3 configuration with 31-inch seat pitch and 6-inch recline with an articulated seat pan. Passengers in economy also get a blanket, big pillow and accessories kit.
The planes will be equipped with Panasonic’s latest touch-screen inflight entertainment system with 16-inch screens in business, 13-inch in premium economy and 12-inch in economy.
Passengers will also be able to stay connected through Panasonic’s eXConnect satellite broadband during the airline’s short- and long-haul flights from Los Angeles, Paris, Auckland and Tokyo to Tahiti.
The airline also revealed the registrations of its four 787s — due to be delivered by September, 2019 —contain a hidden message that when joined together reads will join together to say “the warrior (TOA) going forward (MUA) in the great (NUI) canoe (VAA)”.
Watch wing clouds make for stunning video.
Air Tahiti Nui chief executive Michel Monvoisin said the Tahitian Dreamliner would be a great ambassador for the Islands of Tahiti.
“For Air Tahiti Nui, it is the passenger experience that takes precedence, and so we wished to build on the foundations that make the company a success: the sense of hospitality and sharing, with the Polynesian heart and soul to be enhanced by a travel experience that we want to be the most immersive in the world,” he said.
Air Tahiti Nui currently operates five A340-300 aircraft from its Tahiti base to Auckland, Tokyo, Paris and Los Angeles and codeshares to 37 additional destinations with carriers that include American Airlines, Air France, Air New Zealand and Qantas.
It also codeshares with the SNCF rail system in France and is the only airline that flies from New Zealand to Europe via Tahiti.
