Air Gekko (Faaite) has secured air operator's certificate (AOC) #FR.AOC.0163 from the French civil aviation authority (Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile – DGAC) with a Citation Jet 2+. CEO Eric Tortey told ch-aviation the carrier plans to add a King Air B200 Beech (twin turboprop) in 2026 and is also seeking a Citation Jet 4.

The certification, overseen by the French Polynesian civil aviation authority (Service d'Etat de l'Aviation Civile - SEACPF), resolves years of regulatory hurdles that had prevented parent company Air Alizé (Nouméa Magenta) from operating in French Polynesia under the Air Gekko brand.

In 2019, Air Gekko applied to the SEACPF to conduct commercial operations in Polynesia, but the application was deemed incomplete. Three years later, the company submitted another application using Air Alizé's AOC #FR.AOC.0094, overseen by the New Caledonian civil aviation authority (Direction de l'Aviation Civile en Nouvelle-Calédonie - DAC NC), which was ignored by the SEACPF.

The dispute went to court, with the carrier arguing that European law does not require a second AOC since Air Gekko is fully owned by Air Alizé. The SEACPF countered that each company must hold an individual AOC, and the court ultimately sided with the authority.

With the French Polynesian AOC now secured, Air Gekko has launched commercial operations with a 19.1-year-old Citation Jet 2+, F-ONYY (msn 525A-0320). Based at Nouméa Magenta and configured for up to seven passengers, the aircraft previously operated under Air Alizé's AOC and will be deployed on charter, cargo, and medical services across the region.

Looking ahead, Tortey said a King Air B200 will join Air Gekko's fleet “as soon as possible” in 2026. Air Alizé owns and operates three of the type. He also confirmed plans to add a Citation Jet 4, enabling longer-range missions. Air Alizé operated a Citation Jet 4 between 2017 and 2022.

Air Gekko becomes the seventh carrier and the sole executive jet operator overseen by the SEACPF. Other companies include turboprop charter specialists Air Archipels, Air Tetiaroa, and Pol'Air, as well as scheduled passenger airlines Air Tahiti Nui, Air Tahiti, and Air Moana.