FLIGHTS TO FRENCH POLYNESIA
International Air Flights: Getting to French Polynesia from Europe is a journey of almost 19,000 km which generally takes about 22-23 hours by plane, between flights and stopovers. French Polynesia is approximately an 8-hour flight from Los Angeles in California.
International connections with Tahiti are ensured by the airlines Air France, Air Tahiti Nui, Air New Zealand, Lan Chile, Hawaiian Airlines, and Aircalin.
From Europe there are connections departing from Paris (Paris-Charles de Gaulle International Airport, CDG) of Air France and Air Tahiti Nui, and from London (London-Heathrow International Airport, LHR) of Air New Zealand. All these flights stop in Los Angeles. Another alternative is to use Iberia’s flights from Madrid (Madrid-Barajas International Airport, MAD) to Santiago and then LATAM to Easter Island and Tahiti.
FLIGHTS FROM EUROPE TO FRENCH POLYNESIA
To get to French Polynesia it is better to use Air Tahiti Nui or Air France flights departing from Paris. Air Tahiti Nui operates 5 flights a week from Paris (via Los Angeles) to Tahiti. Air France has 3 flights a week from Paris (via Los Angeles) to Tahiti.
Another alternative to arrive in French Polynesia are the flights of Air New Zealand which has 3 flights a week from London (via Los Angeles) to Tahiti. Iberia also makes numerous direct flights a week from Madrid to Santiago. From Santiago de Chile, the LATAM company operates 2 flights a week from Santiago de Chile to Tahiti (via Easter Island, 10 hours of flight).
FLIGHTS FROM NORTH AMERICA TO FRENCH POLYNESIA
Air Tahiti Nui operates multi-weekly flights from New York (JFK) and Los Angeles (LAX) to Tahiti. Air France and Air New Zealand have multi-weekly flights from Los Angeles to Tahiti.
FLIGHTS FROM SOUTH AMERICA TO FRENCH POLYNESIA
The Chilean airline Lan Chile operates 2 flights a week from Santiago de Chile to Tahiti (via Easter Island, 10 hours of flight). From Brazil the fastest way to fly to French Polynesia is to take a flight to Santiago de Chile and then the connecting flight to Easter Island and Tahiti.
FLIGHTS FROM ASIA / PACIFIC TO FRENCH POLYNESIA
Air Tahiti Nui flies 3 times a week from Auckland (6 hours of flight) to Tahiti. There are also 3 flights per week (in code share with Qantas) from Sydney to Tahiti (9 hour of flight). While Japan is connected by 3 flights per week from Tokyo to Tahiti (11.30 hours of flight) and 1 flight per week from Osaka to Tahiti (12.30 hours of flight). Air New Zealand flies 5 times a week from Auckland (6 hours of flight) and Sydney (9 hours of flight) to Tahiti. Aircalin flies once a week from Noumea (New Caledonia) to Tahiti (6 hours of flight). Hawaiian Airlines flies once a week from Honolulu to Tahiti (5 hours of flight).
Air Tahiti has codeshare flights with Air Rarotonga between Tahiti and Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.
INTERNAL FLIGHTS IN FRENCH POLYNESIA
Internal Air Flights: The airline Air Tahiti manages the connections between the islands of French Polynesia. The central airport is Tahiti-Faa’a. There are 47 islands connected by air, all the archipelagos of French Polynesia have air connections: Society Islands (Tahiti, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Bora Bora, Maupiti), Marquesas Islands (Nuku Hiva, Hiva Oa, Ua Pou, Ua Huka), Tuamotu Islands (Mataiva, Tikehau, Rangiroa, Aratua, Ahe, Manihi, Apataki, Kaukura, Niau, Aratika, Kauhei, Fakarava, Katiu, Faaite, Anaa, Makemo, Takapoto, Takaroa, Napuka, Puka Puka, Takume, Ria , Hikueru, Fangatau, Fakahina, Hao, Tatakoto, Vahitahi, Nukutavake, Pukarua, Reao, Tureia), Austral Islands (Rimatara, Rurutu, Tubuai, Raivavae), Gambier Islands (Mangareva).
Air Moorea handles the air shuttle connections between Tahiti and the neighboring island of Moorea.
Airport: French Polynesia has a single international airport, the Aéroport International de Tahiti-Faa’a (PPT), located on the island of Tahiti 5 km west from the center of Papeete. From this airport all international flights and all domestic flights to the other islands of the archipelago depart. The domestic terminal of the Air Tahiti company is located inside the airport, the Air Moorea terminal is only 300 meters away.
Inland Maritime Transport: Some Society Islands are connected to each other by a ferry boat service: Hawaiki Nui (2 trips per week) and Vaeanu (3 trips per week) that connect Tahiti with the islands of Huahine, Taha’a, Raiatea and Bora Bora. There are numerous ferries and fast ships that operate between Tahiti and Moorea.
The furthest archipelagos have cargo ship services that also carry passengers.