Air Tahiti Nui not too long ago added a brand new path to Seattle. It seems just like the airline has some attention-grabbing plans for Seattle service subsequent yr.
Air Tahiti Nui expands Seattle service to Paris
Air Tahiti Nui operates a brand new 2x weekly flight between Papeete (PPT) and Seattle (SEA) utilizing a Boeing 787-9. The preliminary plan was for the path to be suspended between June 12 and September 4, 2023. Presumably it’s because the provider’s fleet consists of simply 4 Boeing 787-9s, so the airline actually has to prioritize routes.
There’s some excellent news on that entrance for these within the Pacific Northwest — Air Tahiti Nui has not solely restored the Papeete to Seattle route for the summer time of 2023, however prolonged it. For subsequent summer time, Air Tahiti Nui will function a brand new 2x weekly Papeete (PPT) to Paris (CDG) route through Seattle (SEA). The service will function with the next schedule, as famous by Aero Routes:
TN58 Papeete to Seattle departing 11:45PM arriving 12:10PM (+1 day)
TN58 Seattle to Paris departing 2:35PM arriving 9:05AM (+1 day)
TN57 Paris to Seattle departing 12:05PM arriving 1:20PM
TN57 Seattle to Papeete departing 3:35PM arriving 10:05PM
As of now, Air Tahiti Nui’s schedule displays the routing through Seattle, although it’s not but attainable to e-book simply the Seattle to Paris route. Nevertheless, I’d count on that may change, because the airline ought to have pick-up rights there (that Seattle to Paris flight isn’t even technically a fifth freedom flight, since Tahiti is a part of France, so…).
What’s the logic for Air Tahiti Nui’s Seattle to Paris flight?
French Polynesia is clearly widespread with guests from Metropolitan France, although it’s kind of on the opposite facet of the globe, practically 10,000 miles away. Because of this, Air Tahiti Nui solely operates one cease service between Papeete and Paris.
Traditionally this route operates through Los Angeles, with the next schedule:
TN8 Papeete to Los Angeles departing 11:45PM arriving 10:35AM (+1 day)
TN8 Los Angeles to Paris departing 1:30PM arriving 9:05AM (+1 day)
TN7 Paris to Los Angeles departing 12:05PM arriving 2:15PM
TN7 Los Angeles to Papeete departing 4:30PM arriving 10:05PM
Basically what Air Tahiti Nui is doing is rerouting some service to Paris through Seattle fairly than Los Angeles:
- Throughout this era subsequent summer time, Air Tahiti Nui will cut back Papeete to Paris through Los Angeles service from 7x weekly to 5x weekly, with the addition of 2x weekly Papeete to Paris through Seattle service
- I’d assume that this displays that Air Tahiti Nui is seeing sturdy demand for its new Seattle flight; clearly a major variety of passengers on these US flights are merely connecting enroute to Paris, so the query is how the airline can most profitably fill the opposite seats between the US and both Papeete or Paris
- The 2 routes (through Los Angeles or Seattle) are roughly the identical size, as they’re inside 35 miles of each other
- Air Tahiti Nui has a partnership with Alaska Airways, so maybe the airline can get some feed for its Seattle to Paris service
That is little doubt a cool improvement, although a 2x weekly flight between Seattle and Paris for a couple of months gained’t do a lot to construct up consciousness amongst shoppers out there.
Backside line
Air Tahiti Nui’s new Seattle service appears to be performing properly. Initially the airline was going to droop Seattle service within the (northern) summer time of 2023, however that plan has modified. Air Tahiti Nui will preserve this service between June and September of 2023, and even increase it on to Paris.
That is an attention-grabbing improvement, and I’m curious if we’d see the Paris service cut up between Los Angeles and Seattle in the long term.
What do you make of Air Tahiti Nui’s new Seattle to Paris route?
