The route that makes it easier to visit the Cook Islands again

The return of an air link between Rarotonga in the Cook Islands and Pape’ete in Tahiti has made it easier for UK travellers to visit the Cook Islands.

With connections available via Los Angeles and San Francisco, the move positions Tahiti as an important hub, given the challenges that have arisen in recent years to access the Cook Islands. Flights operate twice-weekly in both directions, on Saturdays and Wednesdays. Air Rarotonga is now operating the route, which was covered by Air Tahiti from 2007 until 2020. 

Previous to 2020, the simplest way to fly to the Cook Islands from London was Heathrow to Rarotonga via Los Angeles with Air New Zealand, but the airline pulled its LA-Rarotonga service as the pandemic took hold. 

Air Rarotonga’s managing director Ewan Smith says: “We think that Tahiti will increasingly become an important hub over which visitors will have access from North America and Europe to the Cook Islands, in the absence of a non-stop service.” 

Cook Island authorities have stated that the top priority for the Polynesian archipelago is the expansion of international air links. “This maiden flight by Air Rarotonga to Pape’ete is a step towards achieving our goals,” says a spokesperson.