Air Tahiti Nui to debut Boeing 787 in November

Air Tahiti Nui is preparing to inaugurate its Boeing 787s in early November, which will also mark the introduction of its new cabin configuration. The French Polynesian carrier is scheduled to take delivery of the first of its four 787-9s in October, and it is expected to begin operations Nov. 7, an airline spokeswoman said. The remaining aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in January, May and August of 2019. Two of the four are leased and the others owned, with the leased aircraft to be delivered first. Air Tahiti’s 787s will replace its current widebody fleet of five Airbus A340-300s, of which three are owned and two are leased. The A340s are expected to be phased out on a one-for-one basis as the 787s arrive, with the last two A340s to be phased out when the fourth 787 starts scheduled service in early September 2019. The airline’s initial 787 will be deployed on the route from Papeete to Auckland.<br/>