Ready to fly: French Polynesia’s Motu Link Airline secures AOC

By Andrew Curran.

French Polynesia’s Motu Link Airline has received its air operator’s certificate (AOC), paving the way for its first flights. The start-up cargo airline announced the award via a Facebook post on May 14, 2026.

“Obtaining this air operator’s certificate is the culmination of five years of intense work, reflection, and development, all in service of a new vision for French Polynesia,” said Motu Link President Alexandre Mu.

The AOC was issued by the French Civil Aviation Authority (Direction Générale de l'Aviation Civile). Motu Link has held an operating licence for some time, but flights could not begin without the AOC.

The company, which used crowdsourcing to raise part of the funding needed to acquire its first aircraft, says it will begin charter flights imminently. Scheduled services will follow soon after.

Motu Link launches with ATR72 freighter

That first aircraft is a cargo-configured ATR72-500, registered F-OHEI (msn 713). The almost 22-year-old aircraft previously flew for Canary Islands-based Binter Airlines in passenger configuration before undergoing conversion and ferrying to French Polynesia in February 2026.

Motu Link is French Polynesia’s only cargo airline, something Mu says the territory badly needs. Most cargo is currently carried around the islands by sea, with time-sensitive or critical freight travelling in the holds of Air Tahiti or Air Moana passenger aircraft.

“Our fleet strategy is built around demand,” Mu told Kaori Media in March. “To ensure operational reliability and avoid disruptions when aircraft enter maintenance, we plan to operate three aircraft by 2027.”

“We intend to acquire additional second-hand aircraft that are well suited to the island environment,” he added. “The ATR platform was a deliberate choice, as these aircraft are proven in tropical and insular conditions.”

Motu Link’s ATR72 can carry around eight tonnes and offers approximately 75 cubic metres of cargo space.

Airline targets stronger inter-island logistics

Around 75 of French Polynesia’s islands are inhabited and there is significant economic activity between them. Mu describes Motu Link as the missing link in the local logistics chain.

“Today, freight transport relies primarily on cargo ships, and while limited air freight options do exist through Air Tahiti, capacity remains constrained as priority is given to passengers,” he said.

“There is a very strong dependence on cargo ships, and existing capacity is no longer sufficient to meet growing demand from both populations,” Mu added. “Air cargo provides flexibility and speed that maritime transport cannot match … routes that currently take several days by boat can be completed in just a few hours by air.”

Mu says Motu Link can play an important role in French Polynesia’s ongoing economic development. On a domestic inter-island level, he says the airline will give locals the opportunity to quickly transport perishable products such as fresh fish, fruit, vegetables, and meat between islands.

“Faster transport dramatically improves quality, reduces waste, and supports local economic development,” Mu said.

Looking at the bigger picture, Mu sees Motu Link becoming a last-mile provider for e-commerce shipments arriving in Papeete and needing distribution across the islands.

“By partnering with international airlines and freight forwarders, we could create logistics solutions that connect US freight hubs with islands such as Bora Bora, Rangiroa, or Nuku Hiva,” he said.

Outbound, Mu also sees opportunities for fresh food exports to major markets such as the United States.

“The United States is already one of the main markets for Polynesian fish exports,” he said. “Currently, most of the fish exported from Polynesia is frozen because of logistical constraints. With an efficient air cargo network, we could eventually export fresh fish to the US market.”

“One of our key goals is to reduce the isolation of the islands.”

ADS-B flight tracking data shows that F-OHEI has not operated any flights since the AOC was issued.

Photo: Motu Link Airline.
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com