TRAVEL INFO

How to get to Tahiti?

How to get to Tahiti, image shows Tahiti nui aircraft

There are several ways to travel to French Polynesia, a group of islands located in the Pacific Ocean. It’s worth noting that French Polynesia is a long way from most major cities, so getting there can be quite time-consuming and may involve multiple flights or other modes of transportation.

It’s always a good idea to plan your trip well in advance and to consider factors such as cost, convenience, and travel time when choosing your route.

  • Fly: The main international airport in French Polynesia is Faa’a International Airport, located on the island of Tahiti. Several major airlines operate flights to Tahiti from a number of cities around the world, including Los Angeles, Paris, and Sydney.

    All flights land at Faa’a International Airport in Papeete. The Faa’a International Airport in Papeete has the IATA abbreviation PPT. The number of airlines with international connections is manageable.

    The airport also hosts all arrivals and departures of the domestic airline Air Tahiti, which flies to other islands and atolls. The Faa’a Airport is situated 4 miles (7km) west of the capital city Papeete.

  • Cruise: Another option for getting to French Polynesia is to take a cruise. Several cruise lines offer itineraries that include stops in French Polynesia, allowing you to visit a number of different islands within the archipelago.
  • Sail: If you have your own boat or are planning to charter a vessel, you can also sail to French Polynesia. The archipelago is located in a remote part of the Pacific Ocean, so this option is best suited for experienced sailors who are comfortable navigating long distances.

How to get to Tahiti from the US?

  1. United Airlines offers direct flights to Tahiti from the US. All flights depart from San Francisco.
  2. Air Tahiti Nui offers flights from Los Angeles several days a week.
  3. Hawaiian Airlines offers flights to Tahiti from Honolulu once a week.
  4. Air France offers four flights a week to Tahiti (partly with Air Tahiti Nui codeshare).
  5. French Bee is a French low-cost airline that flies and offers flights from San Francisco to Tahiti.

How to get to Tahiti from Europe?

There are 3 airlines connecting Europe with Tahiti:

  1. Air Tahiti Nui (codeshare with Air France) offers flights from Paris with a stopover in Los Angeles several days a week.
  2. Air Tahiti Nui flies from Paris via Los Angeles to Papeete between two and seven times a week, depending on the season. The feeder flights to Paris are operated by Air France, which also flies to Tahiti three times a week.
  3. French Bee Airline offers flights from Paris with a stopover in San Francisco.

Which airlines fly to Tahiti?


Air Tahiti Nui

Paris – Los Angeles – Tahiti

Polynesia’s award-winning national airline is our recommendation. Tahiti’s home carrier connects Papeete with Paris via Los Angeles up to seven times a week, but only during the high season in July and August. In other months, the frequency drops to as few as two flights per week. The feeder flights are provided by cooperation partner Air France. Tokyo and Auckland are also on their flight schedule.

Air Tahiti Nui is Certified as a 3-Star Airline for the quality of its airport and onboard product and staff service.

What makes Air Tahiti Nui special?

  • Leading international airline to French Polynesia
  • Up to 8 weekly flights from Paris to Papeete via Los Angeles
  • Polynesian hospitality already on board
  • Up to 8 weekly connections from Paris (CDG) to Papeete (PPT)

Air Tahiti Nui has a codeshare with Aircalin, Air France, Air New Zealand, American Airlines, Japan Airlines, Korean Air, Qantas, LATAM Chile.

Website: https://www.airtahitinui.com/

Air France

Paris – Los Angeles – Tahiti

The French national carrier also flies to Papeete itself. There are three flights a week from Paris Charles de Gaulle, also via Los Angeles. This is the fastest connection from Europe to Papeete.

Website: https://wwws.airfrance.fr/en

Frenchbee

Paris – Los Angeles – Tahiti

FrenchBee is a French low-cost, long-haul airline based at Paris Orly Airport. It operates a scheduled network between France and worldwide leisure destinations.

The French national carrier also flies to Papeete itself. There are three flights a week from Paris Charles de Gaulle, also via Los Angeles. This is the fastest connection from Europe to Papeete.

Website: https://www.frenchbee.com/en

United Airlines

San Francisco – Tahiti

United Airlines is a major American airline headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. United operates a large domestic and international route network spanning cities large and small across the United States and all six continents.

The U.S. carrier takes off three times a week from San Francisco in the direction of Papeete.

Website: https://www.united.com/

Air New Zealand

Auckland – Tahiti

Air New Zealand is the flag carrier airline of New Zealand, based in Auckland. The airline connects Papeete with Auckland several times a week and offers various flights to Papeete via London and Los Angeles.

Air Newzealand partners are Air Tahiti Nui, Cathay Pacific, and Singapore Airlines.

Website: https://www.airnewzealand.com/

Hawaiian Airlines

Honolulu – Tahiti

Hawaiian Airlines is the largest operator of commercial flights to and from the U.S. state of Hawaii. It is the tenth-largest commercial airline in the United States and is based in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Hawaiian Airlines has once a week a direct connection between Honolulu and Tahiti. You can fly from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, or any major US city to Honolulu, and then continue from Honolulu to Papeete.

Website: https://www.hawaiianairlines.com/

LATAM Chile

Santiao de Chile – Tahiti

LATAM Airlines (formerly LAN Airlines and LAN-Chile) is an airline based in Santiago, Chile. The Chilean national airline, flies at least weekly between Santiago, Chile, and Tahiti by way of Easter Island.

Website: https://www.latam.com/en_un/

Aircalin

Noumea – Tahiti

Société Aircalin, also known as Air Calédonie International, is the international airline of the French collectivity of New Caledonia, with its headquarters in Nouméa.

Website: https://www.air-caledonie.nc/en/

Please note that the flight information given is subject to change and you must check with the airline prior to booking.

Flight from/toFlight Time
Paris – Papeete22 hours
Shanghai – Papeete12,5 hours
Hongkong – Papeete11,5 hours
Tokio – Papeete11 hours
Santiao de Chile – Papeete11 hours
Sydney – Papeete9 hours
Los Angeles – Papeete8 hours
San Francisco – Papeete8 hours
Noumea – Papeete6,5 hours
Honolulu – Papeete5 hours
Auckland – Papeete5 hours
Hanga Roa (Easter Island) – Papeete5 hours
Rarotonga – Papeete2,5 hours
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