New York, 2005!!

The 365-day countdown has begun for the introduction of its first-ever non-stop service from Papeete, Tahiti to New York and nonstop service from Papeete to Sydney, set to launch in July 2005. Air Tahiti Nui will take delivery of its fifth Airbus 340-300 aircraft, named "Nuku Hiva", to inaugurate the New York and Sydney services.

The New York/Papeete flight, at slightly over 12 hours, will bring the islands beyond the ordinary closer than ever to the populous US East Coast. The tentative scheduled will depart New York three times a week on Monday, Thursday and Saturday at 5:00 PM, arriving in Papeete at 11:45 PM (same day). The return non-stop service is tentatively scheduled for a 9:00 AM departure on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from Papeete, arriving in New York at 3:00 PM (same day).

Air Tahiti Nui currently offers 14 weekly flights to Papeete from Los Angeles and also flies non-stop to Paris from Los Angeles five times weekly. Three flights a week are also operated from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand via Papeete.

New Appointments

The Air Tahiti Nui management team will now operate under the supervision of Patrick Leboucher, Air Tahiti Nui's new Chief Executive Officer. Patrick Leboucher, now Chief of Staff of French Polynesia's President Oscar Temaru, was General Manager of the Tourist Board from 1977 through 1983.

Mr. Leboucher will chair the Board of Directors and supervise the coordination between the company and the government of French Polynesia. He will also be responsible to the government's clearly stated intention to support and accompany the expansion of the company as prime driver of the local tourist industry, the primary economic resource of French Polynesia.

Christian Vernaudon, appointed Chief Executive Officer of Air Tahiti Nui by the Board of Directors, has also held the position of Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Air Tahiti since 1985 and coordinator for the Tahiti Nui 2015 Development Strategy. It should be mentioned that Mr. Vernaudon was also a Director of PATA (Pacific Area Travel Association), CEO of OPATTI (French Polynesia's board for the promotion and development of tourism) from 1984 through 1989.

Nelson Levy, with his background and knowledge of Air Tahiti Nui, has been elected Chief Operating Officer. He is returning to the company he led from 1998 until late 2003. Elected Manager of Year 2002 for the Asia Pacific region by the magazine "Travel Agent", he was also General Manager of GIE Tahiti Tourisme from 1992 through 1998.

Richard Hall, with 24 years of experience in the sector of tourism with a concentration on French Polynesia, has filled various managerial positions with Air New Zealand, such as Regional Manager in Papeete. Within Air Tahiti Nui, he will act as advisor to the Chief Executive Officers and the main office, along with specific responsibility for the opening of the Papeete – New York and Papeete – Sydney routes and the handling of other matters relating to the company's expansion.

This newly formed team has already started work on the most urgent items on the agenda such as the setting up of new services to Sydney and New York and the financing of Air Tahiti Nui's fifth Airbus A340-300.Air Tahiti Nui currently offers 14 weekly flights to Papeete from Los Angeles and also flies non-stop to Paris from Los Angeles five times weekly. Three flights a week are also operated from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand via Papeete.

SKYTRAX Award

Air Tahiti Nui was honored again this year as its cabin attendants were ranked fourth among all airlines worldwide in the 2004 annual SKYTRAX passenger survey. Air Tahiti Nui followed Malaysia Airlines, Thai Airways and Asiana Airlines and out-polled such perennial standouts as Singapore Airlines and All Nippon Airways to garner the 4th spot.

The carrier was also voted top place in the Australia/Pacific regional category, a further testimony to the quality of service that has become the airline's hallmark. The following is a quote from the SKYTRAX Website: "Air Tahiti Nui (one of the smallest airlines featured in the survey) achieved extraordinary success by taking 4th position in the final global rankings - and top place in the Australia / Pacific regional group. With their slogan of 'where the journey begins', it is clear from their result in this year's survey that their customers are in full agreement."

In addition to these cabin crew awards, Air Tahiti Nui was also voted "Best Airline, Pacific Region" and received one of nine "Airline Excellence Awards". A first ever for SKYTRAX, the "Airline Excellence Awards" were given in recognition of outstanding Quality Excellence for product and customer service standards both in-flight and on the ground. Other winners of this new award were: Asiana Airlines, Bangkok Airways, Gulf Air, JetBlue Airways, PGA Portugalia, Qatar Airways, SN Brussels Airlines and TAM Brazilian.

The SKYTRAX survey is the largest independent airline survey in the world and involves an extensive poll of more than 10 million passengers from 92 countries. The survey, which measured quality of service both in-flight and on the ground at airports and passenger lounges, was conducted during a 10-month period from June 2003 to
March 2004.

For more information about Air Tahiti Nui's services and flight schedules, the public is invited to visit the airline's web site at http://www.airtahitinui.com

Text provided by Tahiti Tourisme and Air Tahiti Nui

Air Moorea has repainted one of their planes in partnership with Starwood Hotels and Resorts. By the end of July, their entire fleet will be repainted with themes from Starwood Hotels & Resorts, French Polynesia.

Air Moorea would also like to announce that their new website has been launched and is currently available in English and French: www.airmoorea.com

For more information on Air Moorea, please contact Christel Bole at: christel.bole@airmoorea.pf

Text provided by Air Moorea

PLEASANT HOLIDAYS NAMES
RICK LONG TO STAFF VP NATIONAL ACCOUNTS

Rick Long has been named staff vice president national accounts for Pleasant Holidays. He will be responsible for developing and implementing Pleasant Holidays' cooperative sales activities with its national travel agency partners, including AAA Travel, American Express Travel, Carlson Wagonlit Travel, Signature Travel Network, Virtuoso,TravelSavers, and WESTA.

He began his travel career in 1970 with Pan American Airlines, where he gained extensive experience in airline operations in the Seattle and Southeast Asia markets. From 1975 to 1987, Long was with Pleasant Holidays, serving as regional sales manager for the Pacific Northwest and later senior vice president of marketing at the company's headquarters in Westlake Village, CA.

He went to Classic Custom Vacations in 1987, first as vice president of sales and marketing and later as vice president of sales development in charge of major travel accounts and travel consortia. In 1994, he re-joined Pleasant Holidays to coordinate the company's sales efforts in the Pacific Northwest, which included Washington, Northern Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Western Canada.

Long holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from Washington State University. He obtained his Certified Travel Counselor (CTC) designation from the Institute of Certified Travel Agents in 1988.Pleasant Holidays has announced new additions to its national sales team, bringing the total of its sales team to 35.

VAL WEST JOINS PLEASANT HOLIDAYS

Val West has joined travel company Pleasant Holidays as its Director of Online Marketing. She will manage content of the travel company's websites, initiate online marketing campaigns, and oversee interactive online marketing partnerships.

West's 20-plus experience includes a variety of marketing and management positions. Most recently, she was with the Hong Kong Tourism Board, and earlier, TBWA Chiat/Day, Teleflora and Hakuhodo Advertising in Los Angeles. West also owned and operated a decorative arts studio. West holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and an MBA in Marketing from San Diego State University. West lives in Santa Monica, Calif. She will work at Pleasant Holidays' headquarters in Westlake Village, Calif., reporting to Todd Castor, the company's staff vice president of e-commerce.

PLEASANT HOLIDAYS NAMES NEW ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES TO SALES TEAM

PAMELA BARICH - Michigan and Indiana. Barich's experience of nearly 15 years in sales and travel include employment with Cadillac Travel, Gateway Travel and Adventure Travel, all in Michigan.

JENNIFER FLORES, CTC - Northern California's South Bay, Peninsula, Monterey and San Jose areas. Flores' 17-year career has included supervisory positions with Arista Travel in Saratoga and the California State Automobile Association in Los Gatos.

JUDY KOZIEL - Chicago, Illinois, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Koziel has over 35 years' experience in outside sales, including working with Hilton Hotels, Future Vacations and Air Jamaica Vacations.

DEBRA LAYTON - Northern California's Sacramento and Yolo Counties, as well as North Nevada. Layton's near-25-year history in travel includes a previous stint with Pleasant Holidays, along with sales positions at several travel agencies in the Sacramento and Elk Grove, Calif. areas.

RICARDO PENA, CTC - Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and El Paso, TX. Pena's
previous experience includes sales and market development, along with new
product introductions and market trend analysis with several well-known travel companies, like Pamtours Global, Far & Wide Travel Corp., and Globus & Cosmos.

REBECCA WILSON - Ohio, Kentucky, Western Pennsylvania, and Toledo, OH. Wilson has been a part of travel industry for some 15 years, first as an agency owner, and later in management positions with AAA Corporate Travel and American Express One.

"The addition of these new account executives will provide Pleasant Holidays with any opportunities to provide product training and more support to the travel agent community," says Angela Jones, Pleasant Holidays' Staff Vice President of Sales. "And their combined tenure in the travel industry will add to the excellent customer service and experience of Pleasant Holidays' distinguished sales team."

Text provided by Pleasant Holidays