If you're heading to Bora Bora, Moorea or another of French Polynesia's islands this week, check your flight now. Workers at Air Tahiti, the airline that connects Tahiti to the rest of its islands, began an open-ended strike on Thursday, and it's been canceling flights ever since. On Friday, 27 of the airline's 52 scheduled flights were canceled, according to local broadcaster TNTV, and FlightAware data on Monday listed about a quarter of Air Tahiti's flights as canceled, including flights between Tahiti and Bora Bora.
One thing to know first: Air Tahiti isn't Air Tahiti Nui. Air Tahiti Nui is a separate airline that flies the long routes to Tahiti from Los Angeles, Paris and other cities, and it isn't part of this strike. The trouble starts once you land in Papeete and need a connection to another island.
Why Air Tahiti Workers Walked Out
Three unions, including the one representing cabin crew, called the strike over worn-out equipment, staffing they say is too thin for safe operations and higher bonuses. Air Tahiti's management says pay is at the heart of it. Workers at the company that fuels the planes went on strike the same night, which has also disrupted Air Moana, a smaller airline that flies some of the same islands.
Talks haven't gone well. On Friday, a union representative told local media the meeting lasted "3 to 5 minutes." Management says it sent the unions a proposed agreement on Wednesday and is waiting on a response. Air Tahiti also says only about 50 of its roughly 1,600 employees are striking, but the cancellations are hard to predict because cabin crew only have to declare they're striking an hour before a flight. That's why some flights leave on time while others on the same route don't.
This is the second Air Tahiti strike in six months. Pilots walked out for several days in April, disrupting trips for thousands of passengers.
Air Tahiti Strike · Since Oct. 22
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What Air Tahiti Is Offering Passengers
Air Tahiti has waived its change and cancellation fees for the length of the strike, and it's letting passengers switch to a different island if that's easier than waiting. For canceled flights, it offers a travel credit. Visitors whose flight is canceled because of striking Air Tahiti staff get their hotel and taxi covered, though that doesn't apply to residents or to cancellations caused by the separate fuel strike.
If your flight changes, you'll find out by text message. Air Tahiti is rebooking some passengers onto placeholder flight numbers between 1001 and 1019, which won't actually operate, so don't panic if you see one. Wait for the text with your real flight. A Tahiti Tourisme team is also stationed at Faa'a International Airport in Papeete to help stranded visitors find a room and a ride.
How to Keep Your Trip on Track
The airline's own advice is to show up for your flight as scheduled unless you've been told it's canceled, since many flights are still going. If your connection to Bora Bora or another island falls through, ask about switching islands or a seat on one of the smaller local airlines Air Tahiti has been using to fill gaps. For Moorea, the ferry from Papeete is a reliable backup that doesn't depend on any airline.
If your trip isn't for another week or two, keep an eye on the news before you go. The strike has no end date, and until the two sides reach a deal, any Air Tahiti flight could be on the list.
