What French bee does

French bee is a French low-cost long-haul airline founded in 2016 and headquartered at Paris Orly Airport (Wissous, France). It operates a single-type fleet of Airbus A350-900 and A350-1000 aircraft across nine destinations linking France to North America (Newark, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal), the Caribbean (Punta Cana), the Indian Ocean (Reunion Island), and the Pacific (Tahiti), with new seasonal Paris–Colombo–Malé service announced for December 2026. Originally launched as "French blue" and rebranded on January 30, 2018, the airline is wholly owned by Groupe Dubreuil; CMA CGM Group signed an MoU in September 2020 to acquire a 30% stake in the parent Groupe Dubreuil Aéro, providing growth capital and maritime-air cross-modal potential.

The company's product architecture is built on an à la carte fare model with four economy tiers (Bee Light, Bee Light+, Bee Smart, Bee Flex) and two Premium tiers, supplemented by an extensive ancillary stack (bags, seat selection, à la carte meals, Blue Café, French Bluetique duty-free, Maxi Leg and Cozy Cabin seating, Easy Upgrade bidding, priority services, in-flight Wi-Fi, sporting equipment, pet transport, and unaccompanied-minor service). Distribution is primarily direct via frenchbee.com and mobile, with indirect channels through travel agencies, an APG general sales agent in Canada, an Alaska Airlines interline, and a Train+Air integration with SNCF/TGV InOui. Notable technology initiatives include the Fello'fly wake-energy-retrieval partnership with Airbus (since 2019), which targets up to 5% fuel savings through formation flying on long-haul missions.

Revenue is generated predominantly from passenger ticket sales across multiple fare classes, with a sizeable contribution from à la carte ancillaries (typical unbundled LCC model). The customer base is fragmented across leisure travelers, North American tourists, and diaspora communities in French overseas territories (Reunion, French Polynesia); there are no disclosed B2B or corporate accounts. The airline has been recognized as the Best Long-haul Low-cost Airline nominee at the Skytrax World Airline Awards 2026, Brand of the Year 2026 (Marque de l'année), IBA Global Ranking number one in 2022, and Skytrax Top 10 in 2022. French bee operates as a private, profitable-growth subsidiary within the Dubreuil Group's aviation division alongside sister airline Air Caraïbes.

Name

French bee

Legal name

French bee

Website

https://frenchbee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

French bee is a privately held French low-cost long-haul airline operating an all-Airbus A350 fleet from Paris Orly to nine destinations across North America, the Caribbean, the Indian Ocean, and the Pacific, serving leisure travelers and French overseas-territory diaspora.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Long-haul passenger air transportation

NAICS

Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation (481111)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)

akta.pro primary industry

Long-Haul Full-Service Airlines (Widebody Operators) (THABAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Network Airlines (Full-Service, Flag & Regional) (TLAFAAAA)

Keywords

• Low-cost long-haul flights
• Passenger air transportation
• Transatlantic air travel
• Intercontinental airline services
• Airline ancillary services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wissous

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ticket Sales: Core revenue from selling air tickets across multiple fare classes (Bee Light, Bee Smart, Bee Flex, Premium Smart, Premium Flex) on long-haul routes between France and North America, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific destinations.
2. Ancillary Services: Additional revenue from optional services including checked baggage ($50-$100 online), seat selection ($25-$105), priority boarding ($20), meals ($6-$45), sporting equipment ($100-$165), pet transport ($100-$195), airport lounge access ($40), in-flight internet ($9-$49), and unaccompanied minor services ($65).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

French bee is a French low-cost long-haul airline operating scheduled passenger air transportation on routes connecting Paris (Orly) to North America (New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal), the Caribbean (Punta Cana), the Indian Ocean (Reunion Island, Maldives, Sri Lanka), and the Pacific (Tahiti). The airline operates an all-Airbus A350 fleet and sells customizable fare classes (Bee Light, Bee Smart, Bee Flex, Premium) with optional ancillary services such as baggage, meals, seat selection, upgrades, and in-flight entertainment.

Product overview

French bee is a French low-cost long-haul airline founded in 2016, operating a modern fleet of exclusively Airbus A350 aircraft (A350-900 and A350-1000 variants). The company's product portfolio centers on four economy fare tiers (Bee Light, Bee Light+, Bee Smart, Bee Flex) and Premium cabin options, offering passengers customizable 'à la carte' services. Core fare products range from the budget Bee Light (bare bones, pay-per-service) to the flexible Bee Flex (all-inclusive with free cancellation). Premium Class provides enhanced cabin experience with superior seating and services. The airline differentiates through ancillary services including extra legroom seating (Maxi Leg, Cozy Cabin), priority services, in-flight dining (à la carte meals, Blue Café, French Bluetique duty-free), entertainment (iZiWifi, movies, series), pet transport, and sporting equipment handling. The company also offers Train + Air combination service with SNCF, and operates sister-company partnership with Air Caraïbes. Destinations include Paris Orly, New York (EWR), San Francisco, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal, Reunion Island, Tahiti, Punta Cana, Maldives (Malé), and Sri Lanka (Colombo).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• French Bluetique: In-flight duty-free shopping service offering perfumes, cosmetics, and exclusive products.
• Blue Café
• EasyUpgrade
• Good Deals Card

Products and services

• Bee Light Fare Entry-level economy fare offering the lowest base price. Includes one personal item and one carry-on bag. Meals, checked baggage, and seat selection are chargeable extras. Targeted at budget-conscious leisure travelers flying light.
• Bee Light+ Fare Economy fare with included meal service, available exclusively on flights to/from La Réunion. Includes all Bee Light features plus a hot meal during the flight.
• Bee Smart Fare Most popular mid-tier economy fare including one carry-on bag, one 50-lb checked baggage, and an in-flight meal (with vegetarian and fish options). Designed as the best value fare for travelers wanting included services.
• Bee Flex Fare Flexible premium-economy fare offering carry-on baggage, one 50-lb checked baggage, hot meal, free cancellation, and free seat selection. Maximum flexibility tier within the economy cabin.
• Premium Class Premium cabin experience available in two tiers (Premium Smart and Premium Flex). Includes enhanced seating, two checked bags, full meal service, and priority services. Targeted at business and premium leisure travelers.
• Train + Air Service Combined air and rail booking service in partnership with SNCF. Allows passengers to book flights combined with TGV rail connections to 15+ French destinations (Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes, Rennes, Marseille, Strasbourg, Lille, etc.).
• French bee Gift Card Prepaid travel cards available as classic (2-year validity) or bonified (enhanced value with 1-year validity) variants, redeemable against French bee ticket purchases.
• Good Deals Card Digital membership card for e-wallet providing early access to special offers and promotional fares.
• Checked Baggage Service 23kg (50 lbs) checked luggage service available as an add-on. Online pricing $50 (US) or €50 (EU); higher at departure. Bee Smart fare includes one checked bag.
• Seat Plus (Seat Selection) Seat selection service allowing passengers to choose preferred seating in advance for a fee.
• Easy Upgrade Bidding-based upgrade system allowing economy passengers to make an offer for Premium Class travel. Available to passengers with existing economy bookings.
• In-Flight WiFi (iZiWifi) Wireless internet service available on aircraft, offering discounted and unlimited data plans for purchase.
• A la Carte Meals Pre-orderable meals including options created by a double Michelin-starred chef. Includes child meals, kosher, vegetarian, Muslim, fish, and gourmet meat/fish options.
• Animal Transport Service Pet travel service for cats and dogs. Options include cabin transport ($100/segment) or hold transport ($195/segment). Not available for flights to/from Papeete, Tahiti.
• Sporting Equipment Transport Transport service for sports equipment. Standard pieces $100 online/$130 at departure. Large format pieces $130 online/$165 at departure.
• Unaccompanied Minor Service (UM/UMZZ) Supervision service for children traveling alone. UM service for ages 4-11 (child fare + $65). UMZZ service for ages 12-17 (adult fare + $65).
• Paris-Montreal Route Service Scheduled low-cost long-haul passenger service between Paris Orly and Montreal, the first low-cost long-haul operation on this transatlantic route.
• Maldives and Sri Lanka Routes Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 5% fuel savings on long-haul flights through Fello'fly wake energy retrieval technology

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Groupe M6minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 March 2026Audio entertainment content partnership with Groupe M6 for enhanced in-flight entertainment offerings on long-haul flights.
• APG (Canada)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 March 2025APG appointed as General Sales Agent for Canadian market, managing sales and services for French bee operations in Canada.
• Alaska AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 4 February 2020Interline agreement allowing passengers to book combined flights on Alaska Airlines and French bee, expanding connectivity for both carriers through simplified transit at San Francisco hub.
• AirbuscoreTechnology or Integration · 9 September 2019Fello'fly wake energy retrieval partnership with Airbus for fuel efficiency. French bee participated in world-first low-emission intercontinental fello'fly flight demonstration using A350 aircraft formation flying.
• Air CaraïbescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAir Caraïbes is the sister airline of French bee, both part of the Dubreuil Group. Companies share operational synergies, joint flight programs, and collaborate on initiatives like fello'fly, inclusive experiences, and entertainment content.
• SNCF / TGV InouiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrain + Air partnership offering combined air and rail travel to 15+ destinations in mainland France from Paris Orly, simplifying multimodal travel.
• OneyminorOthersPayment partner offering 3x/4x installment payment options for customers in France and DOM territories.
• PayPalminorOthersOnline payment processing partner for secure booking transactions.
• ANCV (Chèques Vacances)minorOthersAccepts ANCV Chèques Vacances Connect and Classic vouchers for travel payments on French routes.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Air Caraïbes: French bee's sister airline within Groupe Dubreuil, a French long-haul carrier serving the Caribbean from Paris. Operates a comparable A350 fleet on point-to-point long-haul routes and shares commercial agreements, joint flight programs, and operational resources with French bee, making it the closest functional comparable.
• Norse Atlantic Airways: Norway-headquartered low-cost long-haul carrier operating widebody aircraft between Europe and the Americas. Closest direct competitive analogue to French bee in the European low-cost long-haul segment, using a similar fare unbundling model and modern widebody fleet.
• PLAY: Iceland-based low-cost long-haul carrier using narrowbody A321neo to connect Europe with North America. Competes with French bee on price-sensitive transatlantic city pairs and pursues a similar unbundled-fare model.
• AirAsia X: Asia-Pacific low-cost long-haul carrier and a benchmark for the long-haul LCC business model globally. Relevant as a category comp for French bee's unbundled-fare approach and A330/A350-class fleet deployment on long sectors.

Emerging players

• LEVEL: IAG-backed low-cost long-haul brand operating long-haul A330 services from European bases. Competes with French bee on select France-to-North America routes (e.g., Paris/Barcelona origins) under a similar low-cost long-haul commercial model.
• Scoot: Singapore Airlines' low-cost long-haul subsidiary operating widebody services to/from Southeast Asia. Comparable as a hub-anchored low-cost long-haul carrier with similar ancillary-rich fare structure.

Broad incumbents

• Jetstar Airways: Qantas Group's low-cost long-haul arm operating A330 widebodies across Asia-Pacific. Comparable long-haul LCC business model with ancillaries and tiered fares analogous to French bee's Bee fares.
• Air France: Flag carrier of France operating long-haul routes from Paris (CDG/ORY) to the Americas, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and Pacific — many of the same markets French bee targets. Represents both a competitor and a feeder/interline partner opportunity.

Regional players

• Air Tahiti Nui: French Polynesia-based carrier operating long-haul services primarily between Tahiti and Paris/Los Angeles. Directly comparable on the Paris–Tahiti corridor where French bee competes, with a similar widebody A350-class fleet.

Others

• Air Caraïbes / French bee combined group (Groupe Dubreuil Aéro): Parent aviation division of both French bee and Air Caraïbes. Material to assess because it represents the corporate vehicle in which CMA CGM holds a 30% stake and through which fleet, commercial, and financial synergies are realized between the sister airlines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Frenchbee
• Facebookfacebook.com/timeline
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frenchbee
• Instagraminstagram.com/Flyfrenchbee
• TikToktiktok.com/@frenchbee
• Xx.com/Frenchbee7

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about French bee