SKEWS HOPE: Two Tahiti flights could mean more Europeans

ONE of the country’s leading tourism operators sees new opportunities to attract more tourists from Europe.
Turama Pacific Travel Group managing director Robert Skews said this could come from a combination of:
- the launch 3 April of Air Rarotonga’s twice-weekly code-shared Papeete-Rarotonga-Papeete flights with Air Tahiti;
- the number of flights to Papeete from France, especially those operated by Air Tahiti Nui Paris-Los Angeles-Papeete with its Airbus A340s planes;
- combining these with attractive packages to encourage some of the many European visitors to Tahiti to also visit the Cook Islands.
Air Rarotonga announced the new code share service with Air Tahiti during a function at Rarotonga International Airport attended by Prime Minister Jim Marurai.
The service is timed to coincide with Air New Zealand’s withdrawal from the route at the end of March.
The code shared service will use a 66-passenger Air Tahiti ATR72 regional turbo-prop. In-flight meals and a beverage service will be available on the 2 hours 30 minutes sector.
EXCITED
Air Rarotonga managing director Ewan Smith said the airline “is very excited to have an opportunity to develop this important regional route between the Cook Islands and Tahiti, particularly with such an excellent partner as Air Tahiti.
“Our airline is very grateful for the quick responses and assistance we have received from government authorities to enable the launch of this service in such a short time frame.
“We will be working very hard to make this venture a complete success and we know that our colleagues at Air Tahiti are doing the same”
Flights will arrive each Tuesday morning at 10.55am and Saturdays at 2.55pm departing for Papeete one hour later.
Reservations are now available on line at www.airraro.com or by calling the Air Rarotonga Call Centre

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