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Thursday 25 December 2008

AIR TAHITI NUI TO SUSPEND NONSTOP SYDNEY - PAPEETE FLIGHTS

Air Tahiti Nui will suspend direct flights between Sydney and Papeete, Tahiti, from April until October, 2009.

Subject to Government approval, the airline will offer three weekly flights from Sydney via Auckland, with trans Tasman sectors operated by code share partner Qantas and Auckland-Papeete services operated by Air Tahiti Nui.

"This decision has been made as a result of the ongoing global economic crisis," said Craig Lee, Regional Director Australia for Air Tahiti Nui.

"We regret any inconvenience this will cause to passengers from Australia, and we will rebook those affected by this change on our code share flights via Auckland," he said.

Mr Lee said travel to Tahiti had been strong from Australia, but the global financial crisis meant the airline had to consider new ways of achieving significant cost reductions while continuing to offer services throughout the network.

"This reduction in flights is part of a broader programme to cut costs worldwide during the northern summer schedule period, while continuing to offer passengers the ability to fly with us to Tahiti," said Mr Lee.  "Offering services via Auckland enables us to continue providing service to the Australian market. We will review this arrangement when economic conditions allow."

Until February, Air Tahiti Nui will continue to offer four weekly services from Australia – two nonstop Sydney-Papeete flights and two code share services via Auckland.

From 07 February,  the schedule from Sydney will change to one nonstop service and two code-share flights via New Zealand, with scheduled Sydney – Papeete flights due to be suspended after the 28 March departure.

From April until October, subject to regulatory approvals, Air Tahiti Nui will offer departures from Sydney to Auckland at 0715 every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. These will connect with the airline's flight TN 102 from Auckland to Papeete, departing at 1325, crossing the international dateline and arriving in Papeete at 2025 the previous evening.

Air Tahiti Nui will continue to operate its Sydney sales office.

For more information, contact Air Tahiti Nui on 1300 732 415 or visit www.airtahitinui.com.au

 

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