
At just 23, Karim Oussanaa saw his dream of becoming a professional footballer extinguished after being rejected by several clubs. But instead of giving up, he chose to turn this disillusionment into a springboard.
Today, he no longer shines on the pitch, but behind the scenes: he has established himself as a privileged intermediary, organizing private jet trips for the biggest stars in the game.
In this guide, discover how Oussanaa has reinvented itself and carved out its own path at the heart of a booming business.
What is Karim Oussanaa’s story?
Karim Oussanaa is a former amateur soccer player. He had set his sights on becoming a professional footballer, but his dream never came to fruition because his level of footballing ability didn’t suit the recruiters.
The world of football has always been a resourceful environment for him. That’s why, after his sporting failure, he decided to devote himself to the luxury concierge business, and more specifically to chartering planes for soccer players.
After his failed sporting career, he needed to find a new career path.
He sent out numerous CVs to different companies, until one day in 2017, a meeting with an aeronautical company director changed his career path.
Karim Oussanaa struck up a relationship with the businessman and proposed an unexpected collaboration.
He offered to provide the contacts of his friends in the soccer world who needed business aviation brokerage services.
A bold initiative that marked the start of a new adventure.
How does Karim Ousanaa develop his private jet business thanks to soccer stars?
Karim Ousanaa’s business is quite lucrative. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that he is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
It would appear that, on average, the young businessman is responsible for a private jet flight every 48 hours or so.
There are peaks of activity in his business, as in any other sector.
Indeed, during major continental or international competitions such as the Champions League, the Euro or the World Cup, sales are exponential.
Demand is much higher, as players and their families have to travel to the venue.
Most soccer players are people with whom Karim Oussanaa played when he was younger. All it takes is word of mouth to get the business off the ground.
Why do footballers use Karim Oussanaa’s services and private jets?
According to the figures, Karim Oussanaa owns a portfolio of three hundred players, including Florian Thauvin, a childhood friend of the young man. Thauvin, who played for Marseille, is now a professional footballer with Monterrey in Mexico, so is prone to flying back to France to see his family.
Soccer players are very busy personalities. They have very little time to travel between matches. Some soccer clubs are in remote areas of the world, and only private jets can land on the runways of these cities, as is the case in France, Germany and England.
Karim Oussanaa’s service is therefore a precious time-saver for the players. They have more time to rest and get back into shape before the next match.
Their popularity can also be difficult to cope with on a day-to-day basis. After all, they are public figures who are recognizable to fans. By using Karim Oussanaa’s services, players don’t have to be constantly disturbed by an oppressive fan.
Private aviation and soccer players: services to suit all budgets
1. Services accessible to all player profiles
Prices vary widely, from €3,000 for the lowest to €100,000 for the highest. This wide range makes Karim Oussanaa’s services accessible to young players and established stars alike.
“I have League 1 players who don’t have exorbitant salaries, but who occasionally go for a treat,” he explains.
For these sportsmen and women, private aviation becomes a one-off pleasure, but also a way to travel more serenely. For Karim Oussanaa, it’s also a new, stable source of income.
2. The boom in private aviation after the health crisis
Since the pandemic, business aviation has boomed. Soccer players and celebrities aren’t just looking for comfort: it’s the time-saving, flexible travel that makes the difference.
In this business, demand never falters. Even in times of crisis, private travel remains indispensable. Take the case of PSG’s South American players, who chose to stay in their home country in 2020.
These flights were essential for the airlines, as they represented a large part of their revenues at the time.
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