YOUR OPINION: Do you think there is a large enough market for direct flights between Australia and Tahiti?

YOUR OPINION: Do you think there is a large enough market for direct flights between Australia and Tahiti? It interests me that both Air New Zealand and Air Tahiti Nui both offer direct services to Papeete from New Zealand but there are no services from Australia - they all go via Auckland. I would have thought there would be more of a market from Australia to support a service, especially considering Bora Bora is a huge hit for cashed up honeymooners. Perhaps Australia's close proximity to Asia has something to do with it (being there are many cheaper resort destinations in Asia). Thoughts?

No I do not think there is a market from Australia that's why QF discontinued that route some years ago. The route is served by Tahiti Nui and Air NZ via AKL. Under the Australia France Air Service Agreement, there can be 7 flights per week, which can be used by QF or via a code share.

Tahiti is a big holiday spot for American couples - less so for Australians. That's probably why direct flights no longer opperate. 

Not with the cost difference between Tahiti and competing Asia/Pacifc holiday destinations. 

Smaller more efficient long haul aeroplanes (ie 787-8) may help but if Qantas can't fill a 767 they can't fill a 787. 

Zing. I think it's simply cost that drives Australians to Southeast Asia, especially places like Bali - just look where Jetstar flies.

Which comes first? The chicken or the egg?

this is a subject of discussion in our household as my other half is very "keen" on a Tahiti trip, and every avenue I have explored to get there is a pain in the a**.

 Business class is overpriced to hell. and points are a no-go - QF might codeshare with Air TN, but you can't use QF points on Air TN (Papeetee only exists on the QF site as a purchase, not points); I have given up trying to use my abundance of Star Alliance points on Air NZ (belong to Miles & More), as M&M tell me every time I call that ANZ "seem to not be releasing tickets for this sector".

 I tried buying sector tickets Brisbane to Auckland to Cook Islands (stop) then Cooks to Tahiti (these sectors do-able) but Air NZ won't allow a one one purchase Tahiti- Auckland. You can only buy a return, or a one way Auckland - Tahiti.

 In general the interconnectivity of the Pacific islands is almost non-existent; air passes are non-existent, and even airlines like Virgin and Air NZ have poorly co-ordinated and sparse Pacific schedules via Aukland (eg arrive AKL near midnight and depart early morning -  get real!)

 Chicken or egg? -  from this households view point, Pacific islands schedules are crap, and it's expensive;  so that is maybe why Aussies aren't mobbing it (the more or less exception Fiji, and no, not going there again; or Noumea; or Vanuatu…)