Air Tahiti Nui to Launch New York-Papeete Non-Stop Flights in July, 2005.

Business Editors/Travel Writers

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 28, 2004

Air Tahiti Nui, the international flag-carrier of Tahiti and Her Islands, announced today that it will begin first-ever non-stop service between New York and Papeete, Tahiti's capitol and inter-island transportation hub. The 3 times weekly service, on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Mondays, will be inaugurated in July, 2005, a few weeks after Air Tahiti Nui receives its fifth A-340-300, "Nuku Hiva".

The announcement was made by Air Tahiti Nui's CEO, Geffry Salmon, in Los Angeles at Tahiti Tourisme's Annual Travel Industry Business Forum. The news was warmly received by participants who are jointly developing strategies to achieve Tahiti Tourisme's goal of increasing annual visitor arrivals to 300,000 by 2007.

"Air Tahiti Nui is proud to announce the future linking of New York and Papeete," Wally Sumner the airline's Vice President - North America said. "This convenient non-stop flight will open a new market to Tahiti and make our idyllic destination attractive to a large catchment of Northeast U.S. leisure travelers," he added.

The 6,289 statute mile sector will be flown in approximately 12 hours 30 minutes aboard Air Tahiti Nui's high technology A-340-300's, commercial aviation's long-haul leader. The comfortable 4-engine jetliners are the traveling public's preferred aircraft type, and Air Tahiti Nui's cabin crews are renowned for delivering gracious service with Tahitian hospitality.

Air Tahiti Nui also plans to begin online service next year between Papeete and Sydney, Australia. The airline currently offers 13 flights a week from Los Angeles to Papeete, with 3 continuing to Auckland, New Zealand. Air Tahiti Nui also offers 5 weekly flights nonstop between Los Angeles and Paris, and in addition flies from both Tokyo and Osaka to Papeete.

The airline operates an all A-340-300 fleet offering 3 classes of service. A large part of Air Tahiti Nui's success in its 6 years of operation can be attributed to the close working partnership it enjoys with other members of the travel industry, including tour operators, travel agents, hotels and cruise lines. In 2003, Air Tahiti Nui was honored in SkyTrax's annual rating of airlines when it was named "Best Pacific Airline".

For more information about Air Tahiti Nui's services and flight schedules, the public is invited to call the Reservations Center at [phone] or visit the airline's web site at http://www.flyatn.com.