Tahiti, April 6th 2018 - After a few years dedicated to this project,the Degage company rises to a brand new challenge and launches the unique seaplane company in French Polynesia : Tahiti Air Charter

The Degage family, already implanted in maritime transportation in French Polynesia (Aremiti, Dory, Haumana cruises), starts its seaplane company, reviving this specific kind of transport that has contributed to the Polynesian islands development during the 30’s and 70’s.

Some remember the Catalina seaplane from TEAL serving the famous “coral road” between Auckland and Papeete in the 50s, or the Grumann-Mallard from Air Tahiti and its flights to the various archipelagos’ islands.

After obtaining the Part 145 in August 2017, allowing the company to maintain its air fleet, Tahiti Air Charter received on April 04th, 2018, the Air Carrier Certificate (AOC) which enables the group to officially start its commercial activities and to thereby become the first French seaplane airline since 50 years.

Based in Raiatea (only 20 min from Bora Bora by plane), Tahiti Air Charter is offering flights and day tours over and around Bora Bora and the Society Islands to discover the magnificence of French Polynesia. The company also offers the possibility to operate private inter-island charter flights.

Thanks to its own website and distribution network, the new seaplane airline will offer an exclusive range of activities including flights over Bora Bora and Tupai (the heart-shaped island), the discovery of other islands such as Taha’a and Maupiti, and some full-day excursions to discover all the hidden treasures of those islands.

Bringing a new type of activity in French Polynesia, Tahiti Air Charter is also available to operate private charters for its customers. Indeed, the company strives to connect the most isolated islands of Polynesia either for private or professional purposes, freight transportation, or to bring any type of assistance to the local population.

With a capacity of 8 passengers and the ability to land on both earth and water, the Cessna 208 caravan amphibian, also known as one of the quietest in its class, is the ideal transport for the perfect and exclusive getaway in Polynesia, providing security, comfort and modernity.

Tahiti Air Charter is also an environmentally-friendly project, as seaplanes respect the fauna and flora of the lagoons and do not require the destruction of palm trees forests for landing strip construction.

The team, led by Mrs Mere Bordes, Manager of the company, is made of 12 experimented and passionate professionals who made this dream a reality.

With water landing areas mainly located in the Society Islands, the objective of Tahiti Air Charter is to expand this capacity and its air fleet in order to serve the sustainable development of tourism in French Polynesia.

A few words from Ms. Mere Bordes, Accountable Manager of Tahiti Air Charter
We are more than happy to finally see this project being materialized after some years of hard work and thanks to Mr. Tuanua Degage’s passion for aviation. I especially would like to thank all of our partners and congratulate our team who enabled us to launch Tahiti Air Charter, and allows us to open new opportunities for the aerial transport sector in French Polynesia. We are looking forward to the growth of this new activity and are already thinking about its long-term development.”