Air Tahiti subcontracts Zimex Aviation for Marquesas service

French Polynesia's Air Bora Bora eyes mid-4Q22 debut

French Polynesia's Air Moana granted an ATL, eyes ATRs

interCaribbean Airways adds maiden ATR42-500

interCaribbean Airways (JY, Providenciales) has taken delivery of its maiden ATR42-500 as it seeks to expand its regional network.

VQ-THM (msn 621) was ferried from Santo Domingo Las Américas to Providenciales on August 8, 2021, and has remained in storage since then. The 19.5-year-old turboprop is owned by Gladiator Leasing and was previously operated Air Tahiti and Satena, the ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows. The Turks & Caicos Island carrier said the aircraft has been configured for 48 passengers in a single-class layout. It has yet to file schedules for the new type.

"interCaribbean continues to build for the future expanding its fleet to offer more connectivity across the Caribbean, especially for long-distance flights," it said.

The aircraft is interCaribbean's first Avions de Transport Régional unit and although it was acquired in early 2020, the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic delayed its induction. The airline also operates a single E145 (with a further three ex-Dniproavia jets due for delivery), ten E120s, and one...

French Polynesia's Motu Link Airline granted an OL

French Polynesia’s Council of Ministers has approved a draft decree granting an air carrier license to low-cost startup, Motu Link Airline, for scheduled and ad-hoc inter-island flights ferrying passengers and freight.

In a statement, the Council announced the budget carrier would have a fleet of two ATR72-600s of undisclosed origin and plans to employ 162 people, but no further information on its ownership was disclosed.

At the request of the government, the airline, based in Papeete, would serve 12 destinations in the so-called “free trade zone”, starting with:

• Huahine: 14x weekly frequencies;
• Raiatea: 21x weekly frequencies;
• Bora Bora: 21x weekly frequencies;
• Tikehau Atoll: 5x weekly frequencies;
• Rangiroa: 7x weekly frequencies;
• Fakarava: 5x weekly frequencies.

In a second phase, the company would consider extending its network to the airfields of Maupiti, Moorea, Nuku Hiva, Atuona, Rurutu, and Tubuai, the statement read. It hoped to capture 15% to 20% of the market share in these destinations.

ch-aviation research...