AIR TAHITI, AIR FRANCE SEEK TO EXPAND RELATIONS

Air Tahiti Nui and Air France have filed documents with the U.S. Department of Transportation seeking approval of and antitrust immunity for alliance agreements, including a bilateral joint-venture agreement. If approved, the joint venture will allow Air France and Air Tahiti Nui to co-operate and co-ordinate on services between Paris-Charles de Gaulle International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport. “Our joint venture with Air France will provide our passengers with more frequent flights between Los Angeles and Paris, and will link Air Tahiti Nui to the Air France network in Europe,”said Etienne Howan, chairman and CEO of Air Tahiti Nui. “This will expand Air Tahiti Nui’s global reach by providing improved service to passengers travelling between Tahiti and Europe via Los Angeles.”Pending approval of the application, Air France and Air Tahiti Nui’s existing co-operation will remain as it is today, with one codeshare flight between Los Angeles and Paris per week. This codeshare flight provides an additional frequency to the customers of each airline and improves the link between Tahiti and Paris.