Faa'a International Airport

Faa'a International Airport (French: Aéroport international de Tahiti Faa'a), also known as Tahiti International Airport (IATA: PPT, ICAO: NTAA), is the international airport of French Polynesia, located in the commune of Faa'a, on the island of Tahiti. It is situated 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Papeete, the capital city of the overseas collectivity.[1] It opened in 1960. Regional air carrier Air Tahiti and international air carrier Air Tahiti Nui are both based at the airport.[3]

Faa'a International Airport

Aéroport international de Tahiti Faa'a
Faa'a International Airport in 2006
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorSETIL – Aéroports
ServesTahiti, French Polynesia, France
LocationPapeete
Hub for
Elevation AMSL2 m / 5 ft
Coordinates17°33′24″S 149°36′41″W
Websitewww.tahiti-aeroport.pf
Map
NTAA
Location in Tahiti
NTAA
NTAA (French Polynesia)
NTAA
NTAA (Oceania)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 3,420 11,220 Bituminous
Statistics (2019)
Passengers1,464,998
Passenger traffic change 6.1%
Aircraft movements40,368
Aircraft movements change 5.7%
Sources: French AIP[1] Aeroport.fr[2]

Overview

Faa'a International Airport serves both domestic and international flights. Air Tahiti has daily flights to most other islands in French Polynesia and one international service to the Cook Islands. There are intercontinental flights to Chile, Metropolitan France, Japan, New Zealand and the United States. The airport is on Tahiti, which is an island among the Windward Islands, the eastern part of the Society Islands. Because of limited level terrain, rather than leveling large stretches of sloping agricultural land, the airport is built primarily on reclaimed land on the coral reef just offshore.

The airport is operated by Setil Aéroports and has a single 3,420 m (11,220 ft) runway,[1] that can accommodate aircraft up to Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 size.

History

Prior to the construction of the airport, Papeete was served by Short Sandringham "Bermuda" flying boat seaplanes operated by Reseau Aerien Interinsulaire (RAI). There was a connecting service via Bora Bora Airport (BOB) to Los Angeles with an en route stop in Honolulu flown by Transports Aeriens Intercontinentaux (TAI), which was serving Bora Bora in 1960 with Douglas DC-7C propliners.[4] Later the same year, following the opening of the new airport, TAI began serving Papeete directly with DC-7C flights once a week on a round trip routing of Nouméa (NOU) – Nadi (NAN) – Papeete (PPT) – Honolulu (HNL) – Los Angeles (LAX).[5] U.S. based air carrier South Pacific Air Lines was also serving Papeete in 1960, with weekly nonstop flights to Honolulu operated with Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation propliners.[6] By 1962, South Pacific was operating weekly nonstop Super Constellation service to Pago Pago in American Samoa in addition to its flights to Honolulu.[7]

Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux then introduced Douglas DC-8 jet service and in 1962 was operating nonstop DC-8 flights to Los Angeles, Honolulu and Nadi. The latter flight continued on to Nouméa, with connecting DC-8 service being flown to Paris via Nouméa in association with Air France via a number of intermediate stops en route.[8] TAI subsequently merged with Union Aeromaritime de Transport in 1963 to form Union de Transports Aeriens (UTA), which in turn continued to serve Papeete with DC-8 jet flights. In 1964, UTA was operating nonstop DC-8 service to Los Angeles, Honolulu and Nadi as well as direct one stop service to Nouméa, with the flights to Los Angeles offering connecting service to and from Air France nonstop flights between LAX and Paris Orly Airport (ORY).[9]

By the mid 1960s, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) was operating nonstop Boeing 707 jetliner flights to Los Angeles and Auckland, with direct one stop service to San Francisco via Los Angeles, and also direct to Honolulu via a stop at Pago Pago in American Samoa.[10] By 1976, Pan Am was operating direct 707 service once a week to Dallas/Fort Worth and on to New York JFK Airport via stops in Pago Pago and Honolulu, and by 1979 was operating all of its flights from the airport with Boeing 747 wide body aircraft.[11][12]

LAN-Chile, the predecessor of LATAM Chile, introduced Douglas DC-6B propliner service between the airport and Santiago, Chile via a stop at Easter Island during the late 1960s, and by 1970 was operating Boeing 707 jet service from Santiago via Easter Island to Papeete, with direct connecting 707 service via its Santiago hub from Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro in South America as well as from Madrid, Paris and Frankfurt in Europe.[13] LATAM Chile currently flies the Papeete – Easter Island – Santiago route with Boeing 787 aircraft.[14]

In 1970, Union de Transports Aériens was operating all flights into the airport with long range Douglas DC-8-62 jetliners.[15] UTA then introduced McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 wide body jet service between Papeete and Los Angeles during the mid 1970s.[16] By 1979, UTA was operating all of its Papeete flights with DC-10-30 jets, with nonstops to Los Angeles, Auckland and Nadi, and direct one stop service to Sydney and Nouméa as well as multistop service to Jakarta, Singapore, Bahrain and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG).[17] In 1983, UTA was operating Boeing 747 service into the airport in addition to its DC-10-30 flights.[18]

The airport was previously served by several other international airlines, including AOM French Airlines and Qantas, with flights not only to their respective home countries but also to Los Angeles.[19] In 1965, Qantas was also operating a service it called the "Fiesta Route" with a Boeing 707 flying round trip once a week on a routing of Sydney – Nadi – Papeete – Acapulco – Mexico City – Nassau – Bermuda – London Heathrow Airport.[20] By 1991, French air carrier Minerve (airline) was operating McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 service once a week on a routing of Papeete - San Francisco - Paris Orly Airport.[21]

Air New Zealand has served Tahiti for many years and was operating Douglas DC-8 jet service in 1968 with a routing of Auckland – Papeete – Los Angeles.[22] In 1983, Air New Zealand was operating direct one stop, no change of plane Boeing 747 service twice a week between London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and Papeete via Los Angeles.[23] By 1987, the airline was operating weekly nonstop Boeing 747 service to Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) with this flight originating in Auckland and continuing on to London Gatwick (LGW) from DFW.[24] Air New Zealand currently operates nonstop Boeing 787-9 service several days a week between the airport and Auckland.[25]

According to the Official Airline Guide (OAG), by the 1980s and 1990s, major air carriers serving Papeete primarily operated wide body jetliners such as the Boeing 747-100, 747-200 (including B747-200 passenger/freighter combi aircraft), 747-300, 747-400, 767-300 or McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 on their flights.

South Pacific Island Airways served the airport during the early 1980s with nonstop Boeing 707 flights to Honolulu.[18] Also during the early 1980s,, Air New Zealand, Polynesian Airlines and UTA were all operating Boeing 737-200 service to Papeete from several South Pacific island locations including Apia, Nadi, Niue and Rarotonga while local Tahiti-based air carrier Air Polynesia (also known as Air Polynesie and now Air Tahiti) was serving a number of islands in French Polynesia with Fairchild F-27, Fokker F27 and de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter turboprop aircraft .[26] Hawaiian Airlines was operating nonstop Douglas DC-8 service from Papeete to Honolulu by the late 1980s.[27] By 1987, Continental Airlines was operating nonstop McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 service twice a week from the airport to Los Angeles with this flight continuing on direct to Houston Intercontinental Airport (IAH).[28]

In early 1989, five airlines were operating nonstop wide body jetliner flights from Papeete to Los Angeles (LAX) including Air France, Air New Zealand and Qantas with all three operating Boeing 747 service while at the same time Continental Airlines and UTA were both operating McDonnell Douglas DC-10 service on the route with a combined total of ten nonstops a week being operated by the five air carriers to LAX.[29] From LAX, the Air France flights continued on to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) while the Qantas flights continued on to San Francisco (SFO).[30] In addition, UTA was operating three DC-10 flights a week nonstop to San Francisco (SFO) at this same time with two of these flights continuing on to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) while the third flight continued on to LAX.[31]

Air Tahiti Nui, which is based at the airport, was operating nonstop service between Papeete and New York JFK Airport during the mid 2000s with Airbus A340-300 aircraft; however, the airline was no longer flying this route by 2009.[32] Air Tahiti Nui currently operates nonstop flights to Auckland, Los Angeles and Tokyo as well as direct service to Paris via Los Angeles and has added new Boeing 787-9 "Dreamliner" aircraft to its fleet.[33]

On October 2017, the airport received its first charter flight from China, a Hainan Airlines Airbus A330.[34]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Air France Los Angeles, Paris–Charles de Gaulle
Air New Zealand Auckland
Air Tahiti Ahe, Arutua, Atuona, Bora Bora, Fakahina, Fakarava, Fangatau, Hao, Hikueru, Huahine–Fare, Kauehi, Makemo, Manihi, Mataiva, Maupiti, Moorea, Napuka, Nuku Hiva, Puka-Puka, Raiatea, Raivavae, Rangiroa, Raroia, Rarotonga, Rimatara, Rurutu, Takaroa, Tatakoto, Tikehau, Totegegie, Tubuai–Mataura
Air Tahiti Nui Auckland, Los Angeles, Paris–Charles de Gaulle, Tokyo–Narita
Aircalin Nouméa
French Bee San Francisco, Paris–Orly
Hawaiian Airlines Honolulu
LATAM Chile Easter Island, Santiago de Chile
United Airlines San Francisco

Traffic
Year Passenger traffic[35]
2000 1,548,327
2001 1,466,370
2002 1,370,254
2003 1,424,365
2004 1,413,572
2005 1,447,260
2006 1,535,825
2007 1,511,340
2008 1,379,832
2009 1,223,315
2010 1,183,273
2011 1,169,819
2012 1,152,593
2013 1,150,610
2014 1,171,618
2015 1,195,105
2016 1,248,517
2017 1,291,807
2018 1,393,849
2019 1,467,402

Ground transportation

Many buses come into the airport from Papeete, the main bus being the airport shuttle which goes along the Tahiti west coast freeway, which passes in front of the main terminal. The parking lot has traffic guards in which 3,000 people pass through each month.

Accidents and incidents
  • On 13 July 1973, Pan Am Flight 816, a Boeing 707, crashed into the sea just after take-off, killing 78 of 79 occupants.[36]
  • On February 19, 1985, a UTA DC-10 operating from Los Angeles to Auckland via Papeete made an emergency landing at Rangiroa following a telephoned bomb threat. Passengers and luggage were removed and flown to Tahiti onboard French military aircraft. The aircraft was searched and no bomb was found. The aircraft was flown empty to Papeete a week later.[37]
  • On 12 September 1993, Air France Flight 072, a Boeing 747-428 from Los Angeles to Papeete, ran off the runway on landing and into a lagoon. The nose of the 747 was submerged in the water. There were no fatalities.[38][39]
  • On 24 December 2000, Hawaiian Airlines flight 481, a DC-10-10, overshot the runway on landing and slid off the tarmac during a bad storm. There was one minor injury and no fatalities.[40]
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References
  1. NTAA – Tahiti Faa'a. AIP from French Service d'information aéronautique, effective 13 August 2020.
  2. "Statistiques Annuelles - AÉROPORT DE TAHITI - FAA'A". www.aeroport.fr. Union des Aéroports Français. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  3. "Préambule Archived 2012-07-16 at Archive.today" Air Tahiti. Retrieved on 2 February 2011. "Société Air Tahiti Société Anonyme au capital de 2 760 000 000 CFP Siège social : aéroport de Tahiti – Faaa BP 314 – 98713 Papeete – Tahiti – Polynésie Française ."
  4. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, Aug. 15, 1960 Air France system timetable, TAI & RAI flight schedules
  5. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, Dec. 12, 1960 Transports Aeriens Intercontineaux system timetable
  6. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, Sept. 23, 1960 South Pacific Air Lines timetable
  7. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, Feb. 16, 1962 South Pacific Air Lines timetable
  8. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, Aug. 15, 1962 Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux system timetable
  9. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, May 15, 1964 Union de Transports Aeriens (UTA) system timetable
  10. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, Aug. 1, 1966 Pan American World Airways system timetable
  11. Feb, 1, 1976 Official Airline Guide (OAG), flight itinerary for Pan Am flt. 828
  12. http://www.departedflights.com Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, April 29, 1979 Pan American World Airways system timetable
  13. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, April 27, 1969 & Oct. 25, 1970 LAN-Chile system timetables
  14. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-07-22. Retrieved 2019-07-25.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, Jan. 1, 1970 Union de Transports Aeriens (UTA) system timetable
  16. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, May 1, 1975 Union de Transports Aeriens (UTA) system timetable
  17. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, June 4, 1979 Union de Transports Aeriens (UTA) system timetable
  18. http://www.departedflights.com Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, July 1, 1983 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Papeete Faa'a Intl. Airport flight schedules
  19. http://www.departedflights.com Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, July 1, 1983 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Papeete Faa'a Intl. Airport flight schedules & Oct. 1, 1996 Official Airline Guide, Los Angeles-Papeete & Auckland-Papeete & Sydney-Papeete flight schedules
  20. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, July 1, 1965 Qantas system timetable
  21. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, June 1, 1991 Air Liberte/Minerve combined timetable
  22. http://www.timetableimages.com Archived 2001-02-02 at the Wayback Machine, July 1968 Air New Zealand system timetable
  23. http://www.departedflights.com Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, July 1, 1983 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Papeete Faa'a Intl. Airport & London Gatwick Airport flight schedules
  24. Nov. 1987 Official Airline Guide (OAG), Worldwide edition, Papeete flight schedules
  25. https://www.airnewzealand.com Archived 2019-07-18 at the Wayback Machine. Flight Timetables
  26. http://www.departedflights.com Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, July 1, 1983 Official Airline Guide (OAG) Worldwide Edition, Papeete flight schedules
  27. http://www.departedflights.com Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, Jan. 15, 1989 Official Airline Guide (OAG) Worldwide Edition, Honolulu flight schedules
  28. http://www.departedflights.com Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, Feb. 1, 1987 Continental Airlines system timetable
  29. http://www.departedflights.com Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, Jan. 1, 1989 Official Airline Guide (OAG) Worldwide Edition, Los Angeles flight schedules
  30. http://www.departedflights.com Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, Jan. 1, 1989 Official Airline Guide Worldwide Edition, Paris Charles de Gaulle & San Francisco flight schedules
  31. http://www.departedflights.com Archived 2007-12-17 at the Wayback Machine, Jan. 1, 1989 Official Airline Guide (OAG), San Francisco, Los Angeles & Paris Charles de Gaulle flight schedules
  32. https://www.airtahitinui.com/us-en/news Archived 2019-06-23 at the Wayback Machine, Press Releases, News and Information in 2009
  33. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-06-23. Retrieved 2019-07-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  34. "1st Flight of Hainan Airlines to Tahiti". Egis Airport Operator. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 30 March 2019.
  35. "Statistiques Annuelles (In French)". Union des Aeroports Francais (In French). Union des Aeroports Francais. Archived from the original on 28 June 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2019.
  36. Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network for Pan Am Flight 816
  37. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2019-06-28. Retrieved 2019-06-28.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  38. AirDisaster.Com: Accident Photo: Air France F-GITA Archived 2007-04-27 at the Wayback Machine
  39. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 2012-01-14. Retrieved 2015-03-22.
  40. Accident on at Tahiti Faaa Airport to the DC10-10 registered N132AA operated by Hawaiian Airlines Archived 2007-10-10 at the Wayback Machine
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