Air Moana Ferries in Third ATR72, Eight Sector Delivery Flight

French Polynesia’s Air Moana is ferrying in its third ATR72-600. At the time of writing (June 24, AEST), the aircraft, F-OORA (msn 1720) is at Cairns (CNS), having overnighted there after completing the seventh sector of its eight-sector delivery flight to Papeete (PPT).

After taking delivery of the aircraft earlier this month, Air Moana ferried it from Toulouse (QYF) to Muscat (MCT) via Cairo (CAI) on June 20 – a total flight time of just over 13 hours. On June 22, F-OORA flew from Muscat to Subang (SZB) via Hyderabad (HYD).

Yesterday, the aircraft flew to Cairns via Lombok (LOP). So far, F-OORA has spent over 36 hours in the air. It is expected to complete the journey to Papeete on June 24.

Air Moana will use its third ATR to start flights to Fakarava (FAV) and Huahine (HUH).

“These route openings are made possible thanks to the arrival of the company's third aircraft, a new ATR 72-600XT acquired by Air Moana in June, to support the economic and tourist development of Polynesia,” an Air Moana spokesperson said.

The privately-owned airline flies to seven airports around French Polynesia, including Bora Bora (BOB), Hiva (AUQ), Moorea (MOZ), Nuka Hiva (NHV), Papeete (PPT), Raiatea (RFP), and Rangiroa (RGI). It plans to start the Huahine flights on July 2 and Fakarava flights on July 4.

Air Moana will take delivery over three purchased ATR72s by the end of 2026, which they will use to replace existing leased ATRs.

Air Moana competes on domestic routes with Air Tahiti.

Photos: Air Moana. 

Map: GC Mapper