Air Tahiti Nui has brought forward tonight's Papeete to Los Angeles service amid a threat of a strike by the carrier's pilots over a range of grievances.
The flight has been scheduled for 11pm French Polynesian time before the midnight deadline set by the flight crew union to start its strike.
Negotiation have been unsuccessful as the pilots say they will oppose any abusive sackings.
The airline's management says a strike at the start of the peak travel season is irresponsible, given that this comes amid a disciplinary procedure against two pilots involved in a brawl with an American Airlines employee in a Japanese hotel.
Air Tahiti Nui says the incident has prompted the hotel to refuse to accommodate two of its staff.
