10 years of French bee: Papeete
Paris-Orly – Papeete, our story since 2018
On May 11, 2018, French bee opened its route to the Pacific, with a stopover in San Francisco. Since then, more than 419,000 passengers have flown with us between Paris-Orly and Tahiti, covering 33 million kilometers.
May 11, 2018: first flight to Papeete
Less than two years after its very first takeoff, the airline opened two destinations on the same day: San Francisco and Papeete. One route, two promises: California, then French Polynesia, on the other side of the world.
In 2019, its first full year, the route carried 52,677 passengers between Paris-Orly and Tahiti.
Eight years between Paris-Orly and Tahiti
Accumulated since the first flight, these figures tell the story of our bond with French Polynesia, at the far end of our network.
passengers carried between Paris-Orly and Papeete since 2018
That's nearly 8 out of 100 French bee passengers, across all destinations.
round trips
Or about 2,122 flights operated on the route since 2018.
flown
833 times around the Earth, or more than 43 round trips to the Moon.
passengers between Tahiti and San Francisco
Since 2018, the route has also connected French Polynesia and California.
per flight, stopover included
Paris-Orly – Papeete, the longest route in our network.
* Estimates calculated from our traffic data (kilometers flown and passengers carried on the route).
A route that held strong, all the way to a record
Swipe the chart →
2018: from May 11.
2026: year in progress, data as of October 6, 2026.
* Flights operated, both directions: estimate calculated from the kilometers flown on the route.
The dates that shaped the route
From the 2018 opening to the 400,000-passenger milestone, the key stages of our route to Tahiti.
A lot happens at 33,000 feet
The stories you have shared with us, and the ones our crews will never forget.
May 2025
From Papeete to Reunion Island, a friendship born on board
Flight BF711, between Papeete and San Francisco. A Polynesian passenger arrives at boarding with a radiant smile. Just before stepping on board, she asks Léa, our flight attendant, to take her picture: one last memory before leaving her Fenua.
She is on her way to join her son on Reunion Island: 4 flights and more than 30 hours of travel with us. Léa looks after her throughout the flight. On arrival, they exchange numbers, and a few days later they meet again over a good meal, during one of Léa's layovers on Reunion Island.
First time
Tahiti, at the controls of an A350
On August 29, 2022, Latifa discovered Tahiti for the very first time, at the controls of a French bee Airbus A350.
"A wonderful memory that I'm happy to share for French bee's 10th anniversary."
At the end of the world, with a crew that takes great care of you
Reviews collected through our Medallia post-flight satisfaction survey. Some reviews translated from French.
The journey continues beyond Papeete
With our partner airlines, your French bee ticket can take you even further, across the islands and the Pacific.
In French Polynesia
Connections from Papeete to all airports in French Polynesia: Bora Bora, Moorea, the Marquesas and many other islands.
During the stopover
13 cities in the United States from San Francisco, including Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Chicago, Denver and San Diego.
To Fiji
Connections to Nadi, departing from San Francisco.
Ia ora na Tahiti, see you soon on board!
Up to 4 flights per week via San Francisco, on the Airbus A350, at the right price.
