Air Gekko Secures AOC in French Polynesia, Plans Fleet Expansion

Air Gekko (Faaite) has received its air operator’s certificate (AOC #FR.AOC.0163) from France’s civil aviation authority, the Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC), allowing it to commence operations with a Citation Jet 2+. CEO Eric Tortey confirmed to ch-aviation that the carrier plans to add a King Air B200 in 2026 and is also seeking to acquire a Citation Jet 4 to expand its fleet.

The certification process, supervised by the French Polynesian civil aviation authority (Service d’État de l’Aviation Civile – SEACPF), ends years of regulatory hurdles that had prevented parent company Air Alizé (Nouméa Magenta) from operating in French Polynesia under the Air Gekko brand.

Air Gekko first applied to SEACPF in 2019, but its application was deemed incomplete. A renewed attempt in 2022 using Air Alizé’s AOC was dismissed, prompting a legal challenge. The court ultimately ruled that Air Gekko required its own AOC, as each company must hold a separate certificate under French Polynesian aviation regulations.

Now certified, Air Gekko has launched operations with a 19-year-old Citation Jet 2+, registered F-ONYY (msn 525A-0320). Based at Nouméa Magenta, the seven-passenger jet will serve charter, cargo, and medical evacuation missions across the Pacific region.

Tortey said a King Air B200 will join the fleet in 2026, complementing Air Alizé’s existing fleet of three aircraft of the same type. The airline also plans to reintroduce a Citation Jet 4 for longer-range services; Air Alizé previously operated one between 2017 and 2022.

Air Gekko becomes the seventh operator — and the only executive jet carrier — regulated by SEACPF. Other certified airlines in French Polynesia include Air Tahiti Nui, Air Tahiti, Air Moana, Air Archipels, Air Tetiaroa, and Pol’Air.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com