You Can Fly Private to Marlon Brando’s Namesake Resort, But There’s a Catch (VIDEO)

Marlon Brando, the legendary actor who won Oscars for On the Waterfront (1954) and The Godfather (1971), was widely celebrated last week on the 100th anniversary of his birth. He was lauded as perhaps the greatest film actor the country has yet produced, and equally remembered for his erratic career, disdain for Hollywood, and eccentric choices in his art and life.

One of the choices that raised eyebrows was his love affair with French Polynesia. He became enamored with the islands while filming Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) and proceeded to buy a 12-island atoll called Tetiaroa, envisioning it as an environmentally innovative utopia. Brando died in 2004, but the dream lived on: The stunningly beautiful Brando resort opened in 2014 with eight of his fourteen children in attendance. 

Watch our exclusive BJT video—"Brando's Bounty & Beaches"—about the man, his movies, and his dream resort.

A private air terminal was constructed at Tahiti’s Faa'a International Airport for direct flights via Air Tetiaroa, which is the only way to access the resort.

It’s that exclusive.

But perhaps not exclusive enough for uber-VIP guests. Those accustomed to flying privately can charter flights through the airline, which features four aircraft in its tiny fleet: two de Havilland Canada DHC6-300 Twin Otters, which were retrofitted respectively in 2016 (F-OKYB) and 2020 (F-OKRB) with the latest generation Garmin avionics (14- and 15-passenger seating configurations); and a pair of Britten-Norman BN2T Islanders, which were acquired newly built from the manufacturer in 2014 (F-OKAB) and 2018 (F-OKKB), and seat six passengers.

The 10-year-old airline also offers charters to 47 French Polynesian airports in addition to those at Tahiti’s Faa'a and Tetiaroa. 

In keeping with Brando’s vision, The Brando’s 35 freestanding luxury villas were constructed to conserve resources, limit waste, and tread gently on the natural environment. This pioneering approach has led The Brando to become the first resort globally to receive the prestigious LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum Certification.