Air Tahiti Nui 's new Dreamliner gets a traditional welcome in Papeete. Photo / Supplied
Air Tahiti Nui's Tahitian Dreamliner has touched down in Pape'ete as it prepares to use the aircraft on flights to Auckland from next month.
The aircraft is the first of four Boeing 787-9s that the airline is getting to replace its Airbus A340-300s.
The first commercial flight will be to Auckland on November 8.
Each plane will have 30 business class seats, 32 premium economy seats and 232 economy seats.
The airline flies three times a week between Pape'ete and Auckland.
It will be the latest airline to introduce new generation planes to Auckland where about 20 per cent of aircraft are the fuel efficient Dreamliners or Airbus A350s which are largely made of carbon fibre.
Boeing says the B787-9 is an aircraft that will allow Air Tahiti Nui to save more than 29,000 tonnes of fuel a year. General Electric GEnx engines will power the planes.
Besides Auckland, the airline also flies to Los Angeles and on to Paris and to Tokyo Narita.
Air Tahiti Nui says, with faster aircraft, it aims to reduce travel times by around 90 minutes on a return flight to Paris.
The new livery was inspired by the beauty and richness of the Polynesian islands, including Air Tahiti Nui's trademark tiare flower, a giant tattoo representing a story of Tahiti and its people, and the blue hues of the islands.
The French Polynesian flag carrier has bought two of the planes and two leased through the Air Lease Corporation.
Air Tahiti Nui celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.
The airline today released a behind-the-scenes video of the Dreamliner's in-flight safety video which was shot in locations in the islands.
The full in-flight video will be released after the Dreamliner makes its first flight, departing from Pape'ete to Auckland on November 7.
The airline sold its last slots at Heathrow in 2020.