Astonjet : airline

Astonjet is a French airline founded by Charles Clair in 2009. The company, which specialises in business aviation for private flights, is part of the “Clair Group”, named after its founding CEO. It has its own fleet of business jets. Find out more about the history and actions of this air transport company.

The story behind Astonjet

The story of Astonjet is first and foremost the story of its founding president: Charles Clair.

It was at the age of 15 that Charles Clair had a revelation during a family trip. During a discovery flight over the Mississippi in the United States, he had the opportunity for a moment to take the controls, and that was the trigger.

He soon began making his first flights at the Toussus-le-Noble flying club. Then, in 2000, after passing his certifications (validated on the first try), he joined EPAG, which was a flight school for the airline Air France.

Graduated and ready to enter the job market as a pilot, in 2003 the world of aviation is blocked and suffers the catastrophic consequences of September 11 in 2001.

While waiting to find a job as a pilot, he decided to become an assistant at the Institut aéronautique Jean Mermoz. At the same time, he trained as a pilot instructor, which enabled him to continue flying and increase his number of flying hours.

Do it well or don’t do it*, that’s my motto.

C.Clair.

(*Do it right, or don’t do it)

He went on to become an instructor pilot at the Boulogne Billancourt flying club, but the experience was not to his liking. So he decided to set up his own school called Air et Compagnie. The flying school got off to a flying start and was soon fully booked. However, he still had his sights set on finding a job as an airline pilot.

The dawn of Astonjet’s creation

It was at this point that C. Clair became interested in business aviation. He proposed a partnership with the airline DARTA, offering to be their business introducer. This was the beginning of air brokerage. He proposed to act as an intermediary between airlines and operators and customers. It worked, but Mr Clair’s ultimate goal was not to become a broker, but to apply for a pilot’s job with DARTA’s pilot recruitment manager, Sylvie Darnaudet. It took a great deal of determination for him to get the job. He built up his experience on Beechcraft 200 and Falcon 50 private jets.

This determined pilot juggles his company (the flying school) and his job as a pilot with brio. In 2009, Air et Compagnie’s turnover reached 3 million euros.

It was at this point that I felt my passion for the business taking over from my passion for flying {…} I’m going to invest the financial reserves from my flying school to set up my own company.

Astonjet was born. It obtained and registered its AOC (Air Transport Certificate) in 2012.

Falcon_50 — Photo credit: Dassault Aviation

Astonjet since its creation

When it was founded in 2009, the French airline had an exclusive partnership with DARTA. C.Clair still works for the airline as a captain.

The fleet of business jets was built up with different types of aircraft. 2012 saw the arrival of the first Citation Mustang from Cessna. Other similar aircraft were added to the fleet over time. Then new models from Cessna arrived, such as the Citation M2 in 2016 and the Citation Latitude in 2017.

In 2018, Charles Clair wants to set up his airline in a terminal of its own. While it already has a hub at Toussus-le-Noble, the Astonsky terminal at Le Bourget in Paris is due to open in 2019. 16,000 square metres dedicated to aircraft parking, with 3 hangars, and 7,000 square metres of office space. C.Clair doesn’t do things by halves. This modern, luxurious terminal is dedicated to customer satisfaction.

We want to make ASTONSKY a benchmark for French luxury, dedicated to an increasingly demanding clientele. We have completely rethought the welcome and service we offer to passengers and crews arriving with us. Upstairs, five floors are reserved for the group’s activities and a number of tenants, all in an environment that we want to be exceptional.

C.Clair

Today, ASTONJET is part of the “Clair Group”, with the flight school renamed ASTONFLY, as well as ASTONTECH, the maintenance department and the terminal at Le Bourget: ASTONFLY.

In 2020, Charles Clair’s company was named by media such as the Financial Times and Les Echos as the fastest-growing company in the airline industry. In just 4 years, its subsidiaries’ sales have risen by almost 257.4%.

Finally, for the anecdote, you should know that the name ASTON was chosen because it refers to the English word “Astonish” meaning: to astonish! This term reflects the background of its founder.

Astonjet’s activities

Business aviation

As mentioned above, the Clair Group has several branches. From pilot training to aeronautical maintenance, for example.

Astonjet is the company’s business airline. It has its own fleet of private jets and operates worldwide for civil aviation on demand. So you don’t book scheduled commercial aircraft with a limited number of destinations. In business aviation, private jets have access to 10 times more airports. Astonjet therefore operates in a variety of business aviation sectors. For example, during the coronavirus pandemic, the airline chartered Boeing 747s to carry medical cargo. And speaking of medical cargo, the airline also has an agreement with the APHP to transport organs.

Buying aircraft for private customers

As another important activity, the airline has also created Aston Owner, for private individuals wishing to purchase a private jet. We offer advice and expertise. The company will help you and guide you towards the aircraft models that best suit your needs and desires. Once you have made your purchase, your private jet will be managed by the company in complete transparency. You will be able to fly your jet whenever you wish, with a dedicated crew. What’s more, if you don’t use it, Astonjet can use it for other trips to make the cost of the aircraft more profitable.

Astonjet’s fleet of business aircraft

Astonjet’s private jet fleet is very diverse and varied. In fact, the airline has a large number of business jet models from different aircraft manufacturers in the following categories: light jets, midsize jets and heavy jets.

Light jet – light private jet

The smallest members of the private jet family. On average, they seat up to 7 people in their cabin. They are very popular for short-haul journeys, because they are economical, versatile and efficient. They are also indispensable for destinations with short airstrips. As far as hold baggage is concerned, storage is limited, but differs according to the model of aircraft you fly with.

Astonjet’s fleet of light aircraft comprises 14 different types of jet. These include jets made by Cessna, Embraer and Beechcraft.

Some of Astonjet’s light private jet models: Phenom 100, Phenom 300, Learjet 75, King Air 250, Pilatus PC-24, Citation CJ3+, Citation Mustang.

Jet privé Citation Mustang - AEROAFFAIRES — Photo credit: Cessna – Textron Aviation

Midsize jet – intermediate private jet

Midsize private jets combine performance and comfort. Ideal for medium-haul routes, these business jets have a range of up to 4,000 km depending on the model. You can work on board, but you can also enjoy your journey in comfort. Finally, these private jets have a capacity of around 10 passengers, depending on the type of aircraft.

The airline has around ten midsize jets. These come from the manufacturers mentioned above, as well as Dassault and Bombardier.

Some of Astonjet’s midsize private jets: Challenger 650, Falcon 2000LXS, Citation Longitude and Latitude and the Legacy 500.

Heavy jet – long-haul private jet

Long-haul private jets are larger in size and capacity than the other two categories. They can fly for up to 11 hours with around 16 passengers, depending on the model. These business jets offer a luxurious experience, VIP catering and all kinds of services to make up for the length of the journey. In addition, many long-haul private jets have a modular cabin. This makes it possible to create different areas to work, rest and even sleep in beds. Travellers are immersed in a bubble of comfort, and need not be tired by the long journey.

Astonjet has 14 different models, from Bombardier, Dassault and Gulfstream.

Some of Astonjet’s long-haul private jet models: Falcon 8X, Global 8000, Gulfstream G650 and Lineage 1000E.

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