Air Tahiti Nui Adds Two A340s to Fleet.

Business Editors/Travel Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2003

Countering an airline industry trend to reduce capacity, Air Tahiti Nui has taken delivery of two A340-300s directly from Airbus as the international flag carrier of French Polynesia continues its fleet modernization and expansion programs.

With the addition of these brand new high-technology long-range aircraft, Air Tahiti Nui will operate a fleet of four standardized A340-300s this summer, offering 12 weekly flights from Los Angeles to Tahiti and five weekly flights from Los Angeles to Paris.

"The tremendous flexibility, operating efficiencies and economic benefits of the four-engined A340 make this aircraft the perfect match for our missions," Air Tahiti Nui Chairman and CEO Nelson Levy said. "Our customers benefit from unmatched service features and comfort which consistently rank the A340 as the preferred commercial aircraft of its type in independent passenger surveys," Levy added.

Levy noted that the four A340-300s will each be configured with six first, 24 business and 264 economy seats offering state-of-the-art comfort and entertainment features as well as spacious pitch. Each aircraft is named after a French Polynesian island, he pointed out; "Bora Bora" (Registration Number F-OJTN), "Mangareva" (F-OJGF), "Moorea" (F-OSUN), and "Rangiroa" (F-OSEA).

"We are pleased to be adding capacity to meet customer demand in a time when the industry is recording record losses and is contracting. This demonstrates the broad appeal of Tahiti and its sister islands and underscores the strong partnership we enjoy with the travel industry including travel agents, tour operators, cruise lines, and hotel properties," Levy added.

Air Tahiti Nui innaugurated service on Nov. 20, 1998, with one A340-200 linking Papeete with Los Angeles three times weekly and a weekly flight between Papeete and Tokyo. In June 2003, the airline will operate 12 weekly flights to Papeete from Los Angeles, with one continuing to Auckland, and five weekly flights to Paris from Papeete via Los Angeles. From its main base in Tahiti, Papeete, the carrier will also offer three weekly flights to Japan and two weekly flights to Auckland. These flights will continue to Australia in a code-share arrangement with QANTAS Airways.

To contact Air Tahiti Nui for more information, the public is invited to call the reservations center at 877/824-4846 or visit the airline's web site at http://www.flyatn.com.