The airport is operated by Setil Aéroports and has a single 3,420 m (11,220 ft) runway,[1] that can accommodate aircraft up to Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 size.

Prior to the construction of the airport, Papeete was served by Short Sandringham "Bermuda" flying boat seaplanes operated by Reseau Aerien Interinsulaire (RAI).

[7] Transports Aériens Intercontinentaux then introduced Douglas DC-8 jet service and in 1962 was operating nonstop DC-8 flights to Los Angeles, Honolulu and Nadi.

[9] By the mid 1960s, Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) was operating nonstop Boeing 707 jetliner flights to Los Angeles and Auckland, with direct one stop service to San Francisco via Los Angeles, and also direct to Honolulu via a stop at Pago Pago in American Samoa.

[20] By 1976, Qantas was operating twice weekly nonstop Boeing 707 service to Vancouver, Canada in addition to its flights to Nadi and Sydney.

[21] In 1991, French air carrier Minerve was operating McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 service once a week on a routing of Papeete – San Francisco – Paris Orly Airport.

[22] Air New Zealand has served Tahiti for many years and was operating Douglas DC-8 jet service in 1968 with a routing of Auckland – Papeete – Los Angeles.

[24] In 1983, Air New Zealand was operating direct one stop, no change of plane Boeing 747 service twice a week between London Gatwick Airport (LGW) and Papeete via Los Angeles.

[27] According to the Official Airline Guide (OAG), by the 1980s and 1990s, major air carriers serving Papeete primarily operated wide body jetliners such as the Boeing 747-100, 747-200 (including B747-200 passenger/freighter combi aircraft), 747-300, 747-400, 767-300 or McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 on their flights.