Air Moana adds new ATR72-600, will return first aircraft

By Andrew Curran.

Air Moana has taken delivery of a factory-fresh ATR72-600XT in France and will return its first aircraft to its lessor, according to a statement from the French Polynesian domestic operator.

The new ATR, purchased by the airline with the help of investors who participated in a widely publicised tax exemption scheme, is F-OPOE (msn 1831). It was handed over to Air Moana in France late last week.

“This delivery is also a symbol of how far we've come,” Air Moana’s statement reads. “We would also like to thank the many investors … their confidence in our project helped to enable the acquisition and delivery of this new aircraft.”

As previously reported by Aero South Pacific, the airline, which only started flying in early 2023 and is yet to turn a profit, has successfully tapped into tax credits as a way of raising funding from scores of local French Polynesian businesses.

The board of the state-owned Autonomous Port of Papeete also recently green-lit interest-free funding of USD2.2 million to help pay for the aircraft acquisition.

“The arrival of the aircraft demonstrates that a new Polynesian company can invest, grow and become a sustainable part of the aviation landscape of our islands.”

New Air Moana ATR72 yet to ferry to French Polynesia

At the time of publication, F-OPOE remains at Toulouse (QYF). Air Moana’s ferry flights are typically flown by the carrier’s own pilots, operating multi-sector odysseys that can take a week to complete.

Once in Papeete, F-OPOE will replace F-ORMT (msn 1301), Air Moana’s first aircraft. The aircraft was obtained on lease from DAE Capital in late 2022.

Following that aircraft’s return to its lessor, Air Moana’s fleet will remain stable at five ATR72-600s. The airline, which recently said it was benefiting from a marked upswing in revenue and passenger demand this year, operates to ten airports around French Polynesia, including Papeete (PPT), Moorea (MOZ), Huahine (HUH), Raiatea (RFP), Bora Bora (BOB), Tikehau (TIH), Rangiroa (RGI), Fakarava (FAV), Atuona (AUQ) and Nuku Hiva (NHV).

Photo: Air Moana.
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com