Air Tahiti Nui has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, via lease from Air Lease Corporation. The aircraft, featuring a new, Polynesia-themed livery, is due to enter service in November.

This is the first Boeing airplane to join the Tahitian airline, which plans to use the longest-range Dreamliner to replace its current fleet of five A340s and connect its home base in the South Pacific with destinations like Paris, Tokyo and Los Angeles.

Air Tahiti Nui has configured the aircraft to seat 294 passengers in three classes, compared with two classes on its five existing A340s. The cabin features a new business class equipped with 30 full lie-flat seats, along with 32 premium economy seats. Business Class seating is supplied by Rockwell Collins; all other seats are from Zodiac Aerospace.

The airline announced in 2015 it would lease two 787s through ALC and purchase two 787s directly from Boeing as part of its plan to upgrade its fleet for the future. The aircraft will be powered by GEnx engines. All the aircraft are scheduled for delivery by September 2019.