South Pacific carrier Air Tahiti Nui has announced a multi-million dollar overhaul of its aircraft including a new in-flight entertainment system and a complete redesign of cabins throughout its fleet of Airbus A340-300 aircraft.
The new in-flight entertainment system will feature on-demand access to dozens of movies and television programs as well as magazines, games, and music. The system will also include channels for kids plus a destination focused channel, โTiare TV,โ allowing customers to experience Tahiti and her islands from the moment they step on board.
Under the changes to be phased in from April 1, Air Tahiti Nuiโs fleet will be reconfigured to two-class aircraft allowing the airline to expand and enhance its Poerava Business Class and upgrade its Economy Class Moana with all aircraft seats replaced and updated.
Increasing from 24 to 32 seats, the new Business Class offerings will include angled lie-flat cocoon seats based on the popular Sogerma design with a 60-inch seat pitch and a two-by-two-by-two configuration, offering customers a choice of window and aisle seating.
Economy Class will feature new comfort-focused lightweight seats measuring a spacious 18 inches across and an average 32-inch pitch, while retaining the popular two-by-four-by-two seating configuration.
The new seats and cabin interiors have all been designed to reflect Tahitiโs beauty and charm.
Etienne Howan, Chairman and CEO of Air Tahiti Nui, said the updated aircraft would start to appear in service from mid-April and would initially be operated on the Los Angeles and Paris routes.
โWith this new equipment Air Tahiti Nui shares the same essential qualities and attributes of larger global brand airlines. We take pride in completing this with a โboutiqueโ feel and our exclusive Polynesian hospitality, to make our flights an enjoyable and genuine part of the travel experience to Tahiti,โ Mr. Howan said.
The US$17 million reconfiguration is being carried out by a team of international experts including French-based Designescence, who specialize in aircraft interior design; SR Technics in Switzerland, who bring long-standing aircraft maintenance and engineering capabilities to the complex cabin modification; and installation of the new entertainment system, which is bring produced by IMS of Orange, California.
Air Tahiti Nui operates five A340-300 aircraft from its Tahiti base to Auckland, New Zealand, Tokyo, Japan, Paris, and Los Angeles and codeshares to 37 additional destinations with carriers including American Airlines, Air France, Air New Zealand, Japan Air Lines, Qantas, and the SNCF rail system in France.
For more information, visit www.airtahitinui.com.au