Air Tahiti (VT, Papeete) ordered four ATR72-600s from ATR - Avions de Transport Régional (EVX, Toulouse Blagnac) during the 2024 Farnborough Air Show. The contract includes an eight-year maintenance agreement.
The aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2025 and 2028. They will increase the carrier's fleet of the type to 13. Air Tahiti said it would use the incremental ATR72s both to increase frequencies on its domestic French Polynesian network and to upgauge capacity on some routes currently served by its pair of ATR42-600s.
The carrier has an unfilled order for two ATR42-600S, a STOL-capable variant which is due in 2025 and will replace the two ATR42-600s.
Air Tahiti operates exclusively within French Polynesia, with international routes entrusted to sister carrier Air Tahiti Nui (TN, Papeete). Given the size of the territory, some of the carrier's routes are among the world's longest ATR-operated sectors, with services from Papeete to destinations such as Gambier Hiva Oa Atuona, or Nuku Hiva well exceeding 3 hours of scheduled flight time.
