United Airlines reported to be seeking SFO-PPT routes to Tahiti
 

I looked for a thread on this and if I missed it I'm sorry... The French Polynesian web newsite has posted an article that UA has petitioned for authority to operate a SFO-PPT route beginning in the fall of 2018....

http://www.tahiti-infos.com/United-A...i_a166472.html

<cue armchair ceo mode>
For the past few weeks, I've been wondering if UA could take 4 2-class 763s and start once weekly services on:
SFO-PPT
SFO-RAR (complimenting NZ's once weekly LAX-RAR service)
SFO-PPG
SFO-NAN
The aircraft should have the range for it (they're all less than SFO-CDG, which UA ran with a 763 for a while), containerized cargo, and good product upfront but not overwhelmingly premium heavy. Have two leave Friday afternoon, two leave Saturday afternoon, aircraft and crew sit for 16-18 hours, then return back slightly offset from the heavy international banks, but still able to pick up connecting traffic (plus I think makes it possible to pick up some traffic from people completing RTW trips - it seemed like RAR-LAX got some of those folks when I took it earlier this year). I don't know if the joint venture with Air New Zealand covers these islands, but if so, that makes ground handling, cargo relationships, and sales/marketing on the island side much easier.

OMAAT also has an article about this.

http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.c...rlines-tahiti/

It does kind of make sense. No competition from traditional low cost carriers. Economy prices are already more than flights to Asia.

If this happens, this will drive more tourism to FP. Right now everyone is hampered with just 2 non-stops from LAX and SFO (mostly unaffordable), or route through HNL or ACK or Australia.

UA should go one step further SFO-AIT. They have WWII runway which is big enough for 747 I believe.

Seriously tho if SFO-RAR starts I'm on it!! And then straight to AIT

Wouldn't UA have to bring back Ted to start RAR service :p

SFO-PPT is roughly the same distance as ORD-HNL and a direct routing is possible under the 207-minute ETOPS exemption. I wonder if UA would consider this as a seasonal 77H route?

I don't think SFO currently sees UA 767s and even still, the 77H probably has the right mix of premium to economy for that market, given the impending competition from French Blue in a very dense configuration.

If UA starts SFO-RAR, the NZ LAX-RAR flight will disappear. The only reason that one still operates is because of Cook Islands government subsidies. If there's not enough Europe and North America traffic to RAR to make NZ's weekly LAX-RAR flights feasible without subsidies, adding another North American route (which may operate more than once weekly) surely won't work without subsidies, and the NZ flight feasibility would be severely impacted.

I would certainly consider this as Bora is on my to do list.

Well, that would be a great option to finally get rid of my million award miles. It's so difficult to route via AKL
with the restrictions that prohibit going via SIN/BKK. Hoping the rumors come true.

Yayyyy. If UA starts flying to PPT, then it looks like I'm going to have to pull forward my plans for InterContinental Bora Bora Resort Thalasso Spa!

The last time I went to Tahiti was with the family when I was in High School. This was in the 90's and we flew AOM French Airlines which flew DC10's with 10 abreast in coach and no legroom. People complain about coach seats now on the 777 and 787, but there was no torture like 10 abreast on a DC10.

This would be pretty cool. Tahiti has not been on my list due to the difficulty of getting there.

Wow, that's pretty far for a winglet equipped CO 757! :p

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aitutaki_Airport the runway is 1,804m long which yes can take a 747 on arrival from SFO, but probably cannot support a profitable payload back to SFO.
In the real world of the United fleet a 788 would still be payload restricted on that runway.

This would be great. ^