French Polynesia’s Islands Airline changes fleet make-up

Health & Leisure
Thursday, 21 November 2019

The proposed French Polynesian domestic and regional airline planned by long-time South Pacific transport guru Bill Ravel is being required by the government of French Polynesia to add lighter aircraft to its fleet to allow services to the outer islands.

Islands Airline, to be based at Tahiti’s Faa’a airport, had originally intended to use solely Embraer E175 jets on key domestic routes and some regional services, aiming to undercut Air Tahiti fares.

These were deemed too heavy for many of the outer island airports, some of which have runways unsuitable for a fully-laden E175.

Plans are now to use turbo-prop Bombardier Q400s for such operations.

Obtaining an operating licence has been something of a saga for Islands Airline, with the government initially turning down the proposal. That led to allegations that the government was acting improperly, given its shareholding in Air Tahiti.

On the other hand, the project came in for some political criticism with suggestions it was cherry-picking only the most lucrative routes and that Air Tahiti’s revenue loss from competition could lead to more expensive fares on lengthy outer island routes with their much higher operational costs and lower traffic.

A court hearing last year led to the government being instructed to begin the licensing process but the company was back in the administrative court earlier this year to lift a planned requirement for routes to be fixed by an order made by the Council of Ministers.

Islands Airline has talked of regional routes to Samoa and the Cook Islands but is for now focusing on a Tahiti/Rarotonga service which, if introduced, would be in competition with the Air Tahiti/Air Rarotonga codeshare operated with Air Tahiti ATR equipment.

The carrier hopes to get airborne by late 2020.

Bill Ravel has a long history in air services, shipping and other successful business endeavours. He and his family were key players in the formation of Aircalin and Air Vanuatu.

Meantime, another new regional airline – Air Oceania - is in planning by the provincial government of New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands where Lifou’s Wanaham Airport is being reconstructed to take larger aircraft. At present it is used primarily by domestic carriers Air Calédonie and Air Loyauté.

The government has talked with Airbus about the feasibility of obtaining an A220 for use on services to Vanuatu, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia.

The Loyalty Islands provincial government is determined to build the infrastructure for international tourism, envisaging one or more resort hotels.

 

- Kelvin King

French Polynesia’s Islands Airline changes fleet make-up

Health & Leisure
Thursday, 21 November 2019

The proposed French Polynesian domestic and regional airline planned by long-time South Pacific transport guru Bill Ravel is being required by the government of French Polynesia to add lighter aircraft to its fleet to allow services to the outer islands.

Islands Airline, to be based at Tahiti’s Faa’a airport, had originally intended to use solely Embraer E175 jets on key domestic routes and some regional services, aiming to undercut Air Tahiti fares.

These were deemed too heavy for many of the outer island airports, some of which have runways unsuitable for a fully-laden E175.

Plans are now to use turbo-prop Bombardier Q400s for such operations.

Obtaining an operating licence has been something of a saga for Islands Airline, with the government initially turning down the proposal. That led to allegations that the government was acting improperly, given its shareholding in Air Tahiti.

On the other hand, the project came in for some political criticism with suggestions it was cherry-picking only the most lucrative routes and that Air Tahiti’s revenue loss from competition could lead to more expensive fares on lengthy outer island routes with their much higher operational costs and lower traffic.

A court hearing last year led to the government being instructed to begin the licensing process but the company was back in the administrative court earlier this year to lift a planned requirement for routes to be fixed by an order made by the Council of Ministers.

Islands Airline has talked of regional routes to Samoa and the Cook Islands but is for now focusing on a Tahiti/Rarotonga service which, if introduced, would be in competition with the Air Tahiti/Air Rarotonga codeshare operated with Air Tahiti ATR equipment.

The carrier hopes to get airborne by late 2020.

Bill Ravel has a long history in air services, shipping and other successful business endeavours. He and his family were key players in the formation of Aircalin and Air Vanuatu.

Meantime, another new regional airline – Air Oceania - is in planning by the provincial government of New Caledonia’s Loyalty Islands where Lifou’s Wanaham Airport is being reconstructed to take larger aircraft. At present it is used primarily by domestic carriers Air Calédonie and Air Loyauté.

The government has talked with Airbus about the feasibility of obtaining an A220 for use on services to Vanuatu, Fiji, Australia, New Zealand and French Polynesia.

The Loyalty Islands provincial government is determined to build the infrastructure for international tourism, envisaging one or more resort hotels.

 

- Kelvin King