Air Tahiti Takes Delivery of All-Business ATR 72-600: A New Way to Fly French Polynesia

Air Tahiti has taken delivery of a new ATR 72-600 fitted with ATR's HighLine All-Business Class cabin, making it the second airline in the world to operate the configuration. According to AeroTime, ATR confirmed the delivery on 13 October 2026, with commercial flights set to begin on 8 December 2026.

The delivery marks a significant step for the French Polynesian regional carrier, which is using the aircraft to launch a new premium service across some of the Pacific's most visited island destinations.

What the ATR HighLine All-Business Cabin Offers

The aircraft carries 26 seats spread across 13 rows in a 1-by-1 configuration, giving every passenger direct aisle access. One Mile at a Time reports that the seats, designed by Geven for ATR, offer 39 inches of pitch, 21.6 inches of width and 7 inches of recline.

Each seat also includes a personal side console, dedicated storage and both USB-A and USB-C charging ports. The cabin features streaming entertainment and, as AeroTime notes, private rows designed for couples with enhanced privacy and increased personal space.

The Air Tahiti Signature Service

Air Tahiti is branding the new product "Air Tahiti Signature." One Mile at a Time reports that the service will include priority and personalised ground handling, dedicated lounges in Tahiti and Bora Bora, and onboard refreshments celebrating the flavours and culture of the islands.

According to AeroTime, the service is designed to link Tahiti with some of French Polynesia's most desirable destinations, including Bora Bora and Raiatea-Tahaa. The aircraft will operate on both scheduled flights and charter missions.

At Paris Air Show 2025, Air Tahiti's CEO Edouard Wong Fat stated that the airline was not only renewing its fleet but "launching a whole new travel experience," as AeroTime reported.

Routes and Tickets

One Mile at a Time reports that Air Tahiti Signature will operate on select frequencies between Papeete (PPT) and both Bora Bora (BOB) and Raiatea (RFP). The routes cover distances of 135 to 160 miles and are blocked at around one hour.

Tickets went on sale with travel available from 11 November 2026. Inter-island fares in French Polynesia are generally high relative to the distances involved, owing to limited competition, and only one aircraft carries the all-business layout, meaning availability on any given frequency will be restricted.

The Delivery Flight

Getting the aircraft from Metropolitan France to French Polynesia is no short hop. One Mile at a Time reports that the delivery flight took six days and comprised eight segments. The aircraft carries the registration F-OPFO. You can explore more about this airframe and others using the Aircraft Search tool.

Air Tahiti's Wider Fleet

AeroTime notes, citing ch-aviation data, that Air Tahiti currently operates 10 ATR 72-600s with two more on order, alongside two further ATR 72-600s yet to be delivered. The all-business aircraft was one of four ATR 72-600s that the airline ordered, with the HighLine cabin selected for just one of the four.

ATR's View

In a statement quoted by AeroTime, an ATR spokesperson said: "It is another example of how the ATR 72-600 can adapt to different ways of connecting people and places. The same aircraft platform trusted for regional connectivity is now helping create a more exclusive travel experience, with the flexibility to operate both scheduled services and selected charters."

The first carrier to operate the ATR 72-600 in HighLine All-Business Class configuration was Malaysia's Berjaya Air, which entered the type into service earlier in 2026.

The Bottom Line

Air Tahiti's new all-business ATR 72-600 is a notable moment for the turboprop market, demonstrating that premium cabin thinking does not belong exclusively to long-haul widebodies. With 26 seats, direct aisle access for every passenger and dedicated lounges at either end, Air Tahiti Signature pitches itself squarely at the luxury traveller heading to Bora Bora and beyond.

With commercial flights beginning on 8 December 2026, the product will soon face its real test: whether passengers on short island hops will pay a premium fare, even on a 40-minute sector, for a genuinely differentiated experience. For more on the airline and its network, the Airline Search tool is a useful starting point.

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