French Polynesia's newest domestic airline Air Moana hopes to launch its first flights in September.

The airline has been authorised to transport goods and passengers and plans to eventually fly to 21 destinations, employing more than 200 people.

Its leadership team has met the transport minister Rene Temeharo to update him about the project's progress.

By the end of 2024, the airline wants to add about 30 percent capacity to the local aviation market, which is dominated by Air Tahiti.

In a first phase, the airline, which was founded by a former head of Air Tahiti, wants to lease three ATR aircraft.

In 2020, plans for an additional domestic airline, Islands Airline, which was to operate jets, were shelved because of the pandemic.