Air Moana turns to crowdfunding to raise fresh capital

By Andrew Curran.

French Polynesia's Air Moana will turn to crowdfunding to raise XPF597 million (USD5.7 million) after Motu Link Airlines successfully used the method to help fund its first aircraft and ongoing uncertainty surrounding further financial support for Air Moana from the French Polynesian Government.

As reported by Papeete's Radio 1, Air Moana will use the same local company, Fenua Financement, to raise the money as Motu Link did. Fenua Financement raised almost XPF380 million (USD3.7 million) for Motu Link, a Papeete-based cargo airline, and used that campaign to launch Ratel Aero, a crowdfunding platform specialising in aeronautics and aviation financing.

Fenua Financement Director Pierre Poher told the outlet that the Air Moana campaign should begin in "two to three weeks" and the funds would be made available to the airline for six or seven years before they must be fully repaid.

Fenua Financement targets local investors, both individuals and organisations, and says it has set the minimum investment at XPF30,000 (USD290).

"We've always wanted to make it accessible to as many Polynesians as possible," said Poher. "To invest in large investment funds, you need EUR25,000 or EUR100,000, whereas using a crowdfunding platform allows you to open up investment with smaller amounts. It's a way for companies to interest Polynesians in their financing."

Air Moana forecasts an improved financial state

Flying since February 2023, Air Moana is a privately owned airline that has struggled to gain traction in French Polynesia's domestic market, which is dominated by state-owned Air Tahiti.

Air Moana's fleet of four ATR72-600s operates scheduled passenger services from its Papeete base to nine airports across French Polynesia, including Moorea (MOZ), Huahine (HUH), Raiatea (RFP), Bora Bora (BOB), Tikehau (TIH), Rangiroa (RGI), Nuku Hiva (NHV), Atuona (AUQ) and Fakarava (FAV).

But after more than three years of operations, Air Moana has yet to turn a profit, although the airline has recently reported improving metrics, including significantly stronger load factors, passenger traffic and revenue.

To date, Air Moana has courted government assistance to continue operating. However, the Papeete Administrative Court recently overturned a government decision to extend a XPF600 million (USD5.8 million) loan to Air Moana and provide two loan guarantees totalling XPF937 million (USD9 million). The airline has appealed the decision, but the court ruling has disrupted Air Moana's forward financial plans.

A senior Air Moana executive told Radio 1 that the decision to raise capital through crowdfunding was unrelated to the uncertainty surrounding the government funding, despite the similarity in the amounts being sought.

Motu Link Airline ATR still on the ground

Meanwhile, flights by Motu Link Airline remain suspended almost two months after its sole ATR freighter damaged its nose landing gear at Papeete Airport.

ADS-B data shows the ATR72-500(F), registered as F-OHEI (msn 0713), remains grounded following the June 25, 2026, incident, while Motu Link's website says all flights remain cancelled until further notice.

As reported by Aero South Pacific, the nose landing gear was damaged during a routine ground manoeuvre and now needs replacing at a cost of around USD1 million – a substantial burden for a small carrier that only commenced scheduled flights in late May.

After a series of updates during the first half of July, the company has gone quiet on social media, and Papeete media have provided no further reports on the situation.

Photo: AI-Generated.
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com