A new non-stop service between Sydney and Tahiti will strengthen aviation, tourism and freight links between Australia and French Polynesia.
Sydney Airport has announced that Air Tahiti Nui will commence a non-stop service between Papeete and Sydney, adding more than 60,000 seats annually and strengthening connections between Australia and French Polynesia.
The inaugural flight is scheduled to arrive in Sydney on 15 December 2026.
The new service will operate twice weekly and will enable Australian passport holders to visit French Polynesia visa-free for up to 90 days. The route will also reduce travel time for passengers travelling to Tahiti, who previously needed to transit via Auckland.
Air Tahiti Nui will operate the route using the Boeing 787-9, configured with 294 seats, including 30 Poerava Business seats in a 2-2-2 configuration, 32 Mānava Premium seats in a 2-3-2 configuration and 232 Moana Economy seats in a 3-3-3 layout.
Sydney Airport Group Executive Aviation Growth and Group Strategy, Greg Botham, said the new route would improve connectivity for travellers and businesses.
“We’re proud to welcome Air Tahiti Nui’s new direct service between Papeete and Sydney. Tahiti is an iconic destination, and this new non-stop connection makes it easier than ever for Australian travellers to experience the unique culture and natural beauty of French Polynesia,” Botham said.
“This service not only strengthens our ties with French Polynesia but also creates new opportunities for tourism, business and freight between our regions, and we look forward to partnering with Air Tahiti Nui to ensure the success of this offering.”
Air Tahiti Nui General Manager Pacific, Grant Sinclair, said the route would enhance connections between the two regions.
“The introduction of this new connection between Australia and French Polynesia, with a convenient twice weekly non-stop flight from Sydney direct to Papeete, not only strengthens the ties between our two countries, but it also presents Australian travellers with a wonderful opportunity to discover all that The Islands of Tahiti have to offer,” Sinclair said.
“French Polynesia is truly blessed with an extraordinary diversity of islands to explore, along with a wide variety of accommodation and travel experiences from luxury resorts to boutique lodges, Tahitian guesthouses and cruise vacations that will appeal to a variety of traveller audiences.
“At Air Tahiti Nui, we genuinely look forward to welcoming more Australian visitors with whom we can share the beauty of our islands, our culture and the warmth of Polynesian hospitality.”
The launch of the Papeete-Sydney service is also expected to strengthen the airport’s role as a freight gateway, creating new opportunities for trade and supporting economic exchange between Australia and French Polynesia.
The route will join other Pacific Island destinations served from Sydney Airport, including Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.
