Lionel Guérin confirmed as Air Tahiti Nui CEO

By Andrew Curran

The Air Tahiti Nui board of directors has formally appointed Lionel Guérin as the airline’s new chief executive officer. The appointment takes effect immediately. Aero South Pacific flagged Guérin’s likely appointment last month. He replaces Philippe Marie, who was unceremoniously ousted from the role by French Polynesia's president in January.

The airline’s board formalised the appointment during a February 11, 2026, meeting. Guérin already sits on the Air Tahiti Nui board, but local rules concerning governance of public companies forbid a person simultaneously being a board member and CEO, so Guérin has relinquished his board position.

However, he will stay on as chair of privately owned SAS Natireva, the operating company of Air Moana. This decision has raised some eyebrows in Papeete, given Air Moana is a fierce domestic competitor to Air Tahiti, which, like Air Tahiti Nui, is wholly or majority state-owned.

But French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson calls Guérin a “true aviation professional” and credits him with turning around Air Moana.

“We selected an entrepreneur, an experienced and innovative leader with a clear methodology, a long-term vision, and a proven track record in managing complex transformations,” said Air Tahiti Nui Chairman Hiro Arbelot. “In an increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving aviation landscape, Air Tahiti Nui required clear, disciplined, and unifying leadership.”

A strong aviation background

Guérin is a graduate engineer from the École Nationale Supérieure de Nécanique et d’Aérotechnique and a licensed airline pilot.

He has previously held positions as technical director, captain, flight instructor, and head of operational standards at Air France, before serving in several senior executive roles within the aviation industry.

Guérin was founder and chief executive officer of Airlinair, founder and chief executive officer of Transavia France, founder and chairman of HOP!, and later deputy chief executive officer of Air France.

Following the announcement of his appointment as Air Tahiti Nui CEO, Guérin said he was “honoured by the trust placed in me.”

Red tape had held up Guérin’s appointment, which, while not officially confirmed, was widely accepted as a done deal back in January.

French Polynesian president unfussed by Guérin's dual roles

With the government holding 85% of Air Tahiti Nui’s shares, it was always going to have the clout to push the appointment through, although some minority shareholders, including Air Tahiti, expressed concerns about Guérin staying on as the chairman of Air Moana.

Air Tahiti Nui and Air Tahiti work closely together, including co-ordinating on ground services and transferring passengers between the two carriers. Air Tahiti managers are concerned Guérin may favour Air Moana.

But local regulations do not prevent a person from holding a senior managerial role in a public company and a board position in a private company.

More pertinently, Brotherson, who sits on the Air Tahiti Nui board, is comfortable with Guérin’s dual roles. The president said he understood the concerns raised, but mechanisms had been put in place to prevent any conflicts of interest, including ensuring Guérin has no role in managing Air Tahiti Nui’s working relationship with both local domestic airlines.

Brotherson also adds that chairing Air Moana is not a full-time role, saying other people oversee the day-to-day operations of that airline. The president says Guérin’s ability to effectively serve as Air Tahiti Nui’s CEO is not in doubt.

Photo: Air Tahiti Nui.

Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com