The governments of the Cook Islands and French Polynesia have announced the first inaugural commercial flight from Rarotonga (RAR) to Pape?ete (PPT)
This landmark event is the result of a series of high-level intergovernmental engagements and partnerships with the private sector: Air Rarotonga, Air Tahiti Nui and Air Tahiti.
The two governments readily approved the initiatives of Air Rarotonga to operate the air links, in regular service, between the two countries. In the years preceding the COVID pandemic, the route was operated by Air Tahiti between 2007 and 2020.
Through this resumption of a commercial air link between Rarotonga and Pape?ete, the shared aspirations of both governments to create a transit route to link the two countries to other tourist markets has been achieved. With Air New Zealand's recent announcements about the closure of direct routes from Sydney and Los Angeles, Cook Islands authorities have asserted that "the top priority for the Cook Islands is the implementation of our economic recovery strategy, post-Covid19, inclusive resumption and expansion of international air links for the Cook Islands. This maiden flight by Air Rarotonga from Rarotonga to Pape?ete is a step towards achieving our goals.?
Flights will be operated every Saturday after the inaugural flight and will increase to two flights per week starting September 14 to include Wednesdays. The preparation and development of an air service agreement between the Air Rarotonga and Air Tahiti Nui is underway.
