Cook Islands Tourism: Cook Islands and French Polynesia to launch Rarotonga-Papeete route

Cook Islands Tourism stated (04-Aug-2022) the governments of the Cook Islands and French Polynesia announced the inaugural commercial flight from Rarotonga to Pape'ete will be on 13-Aug-2022, opening an official commercial air link between the two countries. The service will be operated weekly, increasing to twice weekly from 14-Sep-2022. The preparation and development of an air service agreement between the Air Rarotonga and Air Tahiti Nui is underway. It will formalise the conduct of air operations and provide a framework to support air linking. The two airlines signed an MoU in Jun-2022. In addition, the drafting of an air service agreement between the two countries is also underway, following an exchange of letters between the governments of French Polynesia and the Cook Islands in Jun-2022. This service launch is the result of a series of high level intergovernmental engagements and partnerships with the private sector, including Air Rarotonga, Air Tahiti Nui and Air Tahiti. Through this resumption of a commercial air link between Rarotonga and Pape'ete, the shared aspirations of both governments to create a transit route to link the two countries to other tourist markets has been achieved. With Air New Zealand's recent announcements about the closure of direct routes from Sydney and Los Angeles, Cook Islands authorities have asserted that "the top priority for the Cook Islands is the implementation of our economic recovery strategy, post-Covid19, inclusive resumption and expansion of international air links for the Cook Islands. This maiden flight by Air Rarotonga from Rarotonga to Pape'ete is a step towards achieving our goals". [more - original PR]