RESEAU AERIEN INTERINSULAIRE, S. A. (RAI): French Polynesia (1958-1970). In January 1958, this carrier is acquired and reformed by the large French independent airline Compagnie de Transports Aeriens Intercontinentaux, S. A. (TAI), working with its partner, the shipping concern Messageries Maritimes. Operations are continued from Papeete with Regie Aerienne Interinsulaire, S. A.’s Grumman G-73 Mallard and Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina over a 160-mile route, with stops at Bora Bora, Huahine, and Raiatea. One of the latter, with 15 aboard, crashes near Raiatea on February 19; there are no survivors.
The first important development is the spring purchase of Sir Gordon Taylor’s Short Sandringham 7 flying boat Frigate Bird III. It is delivered to Tahiti on June 30 and enters service on the route from Bora Bora to Papeete. TAI extends its Paris to Noumea service to the Society Islands, with the huge four-engine aircraft, beginning on October 22, providing the final connection for what is the world’s longest air route— 12,000 miles.
The present Papeete-Faa’a Airport opens on October 16, 1960 as the only commercial airfield in all of French Polynesia. At this point, RAI switches its service away from Bora Bora and the flying boat is placed on lesser routes. The subsidiary passes to UTA French Airlines upon its formation from TAI and Union Aeromaritime de Transports (UAT) in 1963.
In the fall of 1964, Air Polynesie, S. A., a private company, begins flying from Tahiti to Moorea with a Grumman Goose; however, this new concern and its service is acquired by RAI during the summer of 1965. Operations continue apace, largely without change. Airports are, however, constructed at Rangiroa, Raiatea, and Moorea and the fleet is increased by the lease of two Douglas DC-4s from UTA and the purchase of a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and a Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander.
On January 1, 1970, RAI is renamed Air Polynesie, S. A.
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