Inter-island flying in French Polynesia is about to get a serious upgrade. Air Tahiti, the domestic carrier that connects Tahiti with resort islands like Bora Bora and Raiatea, has taken delivery of an ATR 72-600 configured entirely as a business class cabin, branded Air Tahiti Signature.
Instead of the usual 70 seats, this turboprop carries just 26, set out in 13 rows of 1-1. Every traveller gets both a window and an aisle seat — handy, because the window views over the atolls are half the point of these short hops. The seats, made by Italian firm Geven, offer 21.7 inches of width, 39.4 inches of pitch and seven inches of recline, plus a personal side table, individual storage, USB-A and USB-C charging, and streaming entertainment on your own device. Nobody is getting a flat bed, but with flights under an hour, nobody needs one.
The package extends beyond the cabin. Air Tahiti promises priority airport handling, dedicated lounges at both Faa'a International (PPT) in Tahiti and Bora Bora, and upgraded refreshments in the air. The aircraft itself wears a special livery drawing on Polynesian design, tied to the Tahiti Centre for Arts and Crafts, with design touches carried through the cabin. Service begins November 11, 2026, serving Bora Bora (BOB) and Raiatea (RFP) from Tahiti on both scheduled flights and charters.
Now the catch: pricing. Early one-way business fares are coming in just under $500, against economy from roughly $220 on the same routes. That is a steep premium for a flight lasting well under an hour — though, as anyone who has priced a trip to Bora Bora knows, the economy fare is hardly cheap either. The logic is straightforward: someone already spending several thousand a night at an overwater villa will probably shrug at a few hundred dollars more for a spacious seat and a smooth airport experience after a long-haul flight from the US or Europe.
There are two open questions worth watching. First, whether some Signature flights replace useful 70-seat economy departures rather than supplementing them — in a region where islands are under 200 miles apart and standard flights often sell out days ahead, that could hurt locals and budget travellers alike. Second, Alaska's Atmos Rewards programme now lists Air Tahiti as a "coming soon" regional partner, which hints these seats might eventually be bookable with points. Nothing is confirmed yet on redemption rates or availability, but if it pans out, it could make the whole Tahiti-plus-Bora-Bora trip significantly cheaper for award travellers.
The takeaway: from November 2026, the last leg of a French Polynesia holiday no longer has to mean squeezing into a cramped regional seat. If you are planning a honeymoon or a splurge trip, it is worth watching how Signature slots into schedules — and how the Atmos partnership develops — before you book.
