United Airlines to resume San Francisco-Papeete flight in summer
United Airlines will relaunch its connection this summer between San Francisco and Papeete, suspended again since February due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Hawaiian Airlines should wait until August to return from Honolulu.
From next June United Airlines “maintains its seat offer” and again offers three flights a week between its base in San Francisco and Papeete-Faa’a airport, operated by Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that can accommodate 48 passengers in Business class, 21 in Premium and 188 in Economy. Departures are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 1.20 p.m. to arrive at 6.50 p.m., return flights leaving French Polynesia at 9.15 p.m. to land the next day at 8.20 a.m. (average flight time 8.15 a.m.).
United Airlines is out of the health crisis in direct competition on this route inaugurated in October 2018 with the low cost French bee, and indirect to and from Los Angeles with Air France and Air Tahiti Nui.
The summer service to Papeete had been announced in March by the French companies: Air Tahiti Nui wishes to operate the Papeete – Paris-CDG route via Los Angeles at a rate of 4 to 6 frequencies per week. On the Papeete – Los Angeles route, it provides between 2 and 3 frequencies per week. The Air France program on the Paris-CDG – Papeete route (via Los Angeles or Vancouver) covers the entire Summer season; finally the low cost French Bee wishes to serve Tahiti from Paris-Orly via San Francisco (or Guadeloupe as currently) throughout the summer season.