For the first time, the Aranui 3 will visit five of the Austral Islands via a once only, 8-day, cruise to this southernmost archipelago in French Polynesia. The 2007 visit to the Australs is in addition to the Aranui 3's ongoing 15-day programs from Tahiti to the Marquesas, and will leave Papeete January 19th, 2007. Islands visited on this unique voyage include Rurutu, Rimatara, Tubai, Raivavae, and Rapa. Rates range from $2,635 to $3,895 per person, based on double occupancy.

As reported in Tahitipresse yesterday, effective as of November 2, 2006, Air France is replacing its Boeing 747 aircraft with an Airbus A-340 on the Los Angeles to Papeete route. Air France will also replace its 747 Paris-Los Angeles-Paris flights with Boeing 777-300 aircraft.

The islands of Tahiti previously welcomed three flights from the French national carrier, there will now be four weekly flights instead of the previous three, but the overall seating capacity will be less as Air France aims to increase each flight's passenger load. Each Air France Airbus A340 can carry up to 272 passengers - 36 in business, 236 in economy. That compares with the previous 433-seat 747, or a net loss of 161 passengers per flight. But that shortfall is partially offset by four roundtrip Airbus flights a week from Los Angeles with an overall capacity of 1,088 passengers. That new capacity is 211 passengers less than the previous 1,299 overall capacity for three 747s.

Air New Zealand will introduce several changes to its Pacific network next year following a review of the airline’s non-profitable routes. Effective April 2, 2007, Air New Zealand will suspend the Rarotonga – Papeete – Los Angeles services currently operating three times per week. In its place, Air New Zealand has announced a code share with Air Tahiti Nui on four of ATN’s daily services from Los Angeles to Papeete, providing connections with Air New Zealand’s services to / from London.

In addition, Air New Zealand has announced that service between Papeete and Auckland will be provided by ANZ four times per week, with an Air Tahiti Nui code share. In their media release, Air New Zealand notes that the new code share agreement is subject to approval by the respective government officials. In the same press release, Air New Zealand announced that they will reinstate a weekly non-stop service between Rarotonga and Los Angeles.

Air Tahiti Nui Chief Executive, M. Eric Pommier stated, “We look forward to working with Air New Zealand in this new code share arrangement that will benefit both companies, as well as our respective countries. This new cooperation will provide a better distribution of services between New Zealand and French Polynesia, and afford convenient and improved frequencies to all of our customers.”

On October 1, 2006, Air Tahiti Nui announced the appointment of Nicholas Panza as Vice President of the Americas for the company's sales and marketing throughout the Americas. He will be based at Air Tahiti Nui's U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles.

The airline has also announced the appointment of Jeannie Kutz as regional sales manager for New York, Connecticut and select southeastern states.

Hotel Bora Bora received noteworthy rankings in this year's Conde Nast Travelers Awards. The hotel was ranked in the top 10 of the magazine's desirable Gold List, at number 8 in the best hotels in the Australia and Pacific Nations region. Additionally, the hotel achieved the best scores in the region for the "Location" and "Rooms" categories. Hotel Bora Bora has also announced the addition of Thomas Bastian as Chef. Previously at Le Meridien Bora Bora, he also served at famous eateries Spoon at Sanderson by Alain Ducasse, in London, the Hotel Palais Maeterlinck in Nice, and at Lenotre in Paris.

Bora Bora Pearl Beach Resort & Spa has announced Xavier Bessou as the new general manager. Previously the resort's executive assistant manager, Mr. Bessou brings a wealth of experience in the hospitality industry, including one year as Food and Beverage Outlets manager at the Hotel Sheraton Gateway in Los Angeles, two years with Hotel Sofitel Los Angeles (Accor Hotels), where he was honored as Manager of the Year and nominated as Manager of the Year nationwide.

Additional industry experience includes management internships with Hotel Monasterio (Orient Express Hotels) in Cusco, Peru, South Pacific Management and Tahiti Nui Travel in Papeete, Hotel Palladia in Toulouse, France, and Manihi Pearl Beach Resort.

After an extensive $40-million USD renovation, the Sofitel Moorea Beach (previously named the Sofitel Ia Ora) re-opened November 1, 2006.

Offering 114 garden, beach, and over-water bungalows ranging in size from 41 to 75 square meters, each bungalow boasts a signature thatched roof top with walls adorned in shades of Kohu wood.

Hotel guests have three dining options, from the internationally themed "Pure" main restaurant, to the tranquil "Vue" cocktail bar, to the romantic "K," Sofitel Moorea's intimate gourmet restaurant showcasing the freshest local produce in elegance and refinement.

The new luxurious spa offers seven treatment rooms.

With 2% more seats overall during September compared with a year ago, the six international carriers serving Tahiti carried 8% more passengers and filled an average of nearly 67% of all available seats during the month of September. January to September 2006, the six airlines offered nearly 11% more seats on 237 more flights, carrying 8% more passengers and filling an average of nearly 68% of available seats.