Air Caraibes

What Air Caraibes does

Air Caraïbes is a French leisure airline, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Les Abymes, Guadeloupe, that operates as a subsidiary of the privately held Groupe Dubreuil. From its Paris-Orly base, the carrier flies scheduled and charter services to 14+ destinations across the French Caribbean (Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy), French Guiana, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Haiti, Réunion, and New York/Newark. The airline operates a three-class cabin structure — Classe Soleil (economy), Classe Caraïbes (premium economy), and Classe Madras (business) — complemented by a broad ancillary portfolio including Plusgrade-powered upgrade auctions, Speed Pack/Pass/Bag priority services, Pass Lounge and Extime lounge access, Xtra Bag baggage, Fin Gourmet dining, and the iZipress/iZiWifi onboard experience. Its core technology is standard airline IT (PSS, booking, and operational systems) with native iOS/Android apps and a multilingual direct booking website.

The business model is sales-led and transactional: ticket revenue across three fare classes drives the core, layered with per-transaction ancillary revenue and partner commissions from SIXT, Free2Move, Entertainup, Vakans, AXA, Oney, and Kolet. Customer segments are dominated by leisure travelers and the Caribbean diaspora, supplemented by Flexil PRO business subscribers, youth, senior, and group segments. Loyalty is managed through the Préférence program (Gold and Diamond tiers), with miles redemption on flights and ancillaries. Distribution is omnichannel — own website, mobile apps, call center (0 820 835 835), physical agencies and airport ticket offices, travel-agency GDS resellers, and a code-share with French Bee — and payment flexibility is supported by Oney 3x/4x installments and Crédit Agricole's TOP 3 in-agency financing. The company holds French operating license EN.AOC.0007 and operates under Montreal Convention / EU 889/2002 frameworks.

Name

Air Caraibes

Legal name

Air Caraïbes

Website

https://aircaraibes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Air Caraïbes is a privately held French leisure airline, subsidiary of Groupe Dubreuil, operating scheduled and charter flights from Paris-Orly to 14+ Caribbean and Atlantic destinations for leisure travelers and the French Caribbean diaspora, with three cabin classes and extensive ancillary services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Passenger Air Transportation

NAICS

Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation (481111), Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Scheduled Air Transportation (48111)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

Island & Remote Region Regional Airlines (THABACAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Ad Hoc Passenger Charter Operators (THABADAB)

Keywords

• Passenger air transportation
• Leisure airline services
• Scheduled flight operations
• Frequent flyer loyalty programs
• Airline ancillary services

Headquarters

HQ city

Les Abymes

HQ country

Guadeloupe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Passenger Air Transportation: Core revenue from selling flight tickets across three cabin classes (Soleil economy, Caraïbes premium economy, Madras business) on transatlantic routes between France and Caribbean/Guyane destinations, and regional inter-island routes.
2. Ancillary Services: Revenue from optional add-ons including seat reservations, priority services (Speed Pack, Speed Pass, Speed Bag), lounge access (Pass Lounge, Pass Lounge Extime), excess baggage (Xtra Bag), upgrades (Up Class, Instant Duo), specialty meals (Fin Gourmet, Teen Menu), and refund protection (Pass Zen).
3. Plusgrade Auction Service: Revenue from selling cabin upgrades through instant purchase or bid-based auction system, allowing passengers to upgrade from Soleil to Caraïbes class, Caraïbes to Madras class, or Soleil directly to Madras class.
4. Loyalty Program Miles Redemption: Revenue from miles-based redemptions in the Préférence loyalty program, where members can use accumulated miles to book flights and purchase ancillary services.
5. Partner Commissions: Commissions from partnered services including car rentals (SIXT), parking (Free2Move), activities (Entertainup), package holidays (Vakans), travel insurance (AXA), and payment financing (Oney).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Air Caraibes operates scheduled passenger air transportation between Paris-Orly and Caribbean, French Guiana, and select transatlantic destinations (Dominican Republic, Mexico, Haiti, Réunion, New York), offering three cabin classes (Classe Soleil economy, Classe Caraïbes premium economy, Classe Madras business). The airline sells ancillary VIP services (seat selection, upgrades, lounge access, extra baggage, gourmet meals), a frequent flyer loyalty program (Préférence), and a business subscription (Flexil PRO).

Product overview

Air Caraïbes is a French leisure airline operating scheduled and charter flights to Caribbean and Atlantic destinations including Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Saint-Martin, Saint-Barthélemy, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Haiti, and Reunion. The company offers three cabin classes (Classe Soleil economy, Classe Caraïbes premium economy, and Classe Madras business) with tiered service levels and extensive VIP add-on services. The product portfolio centers on air transportation complemented by loyalty programs (Programme Préférence with Gold and Diamond tiers), subscription options (Flexil PRO for businesses, student cards for ages 18-29), ancillary services (upgrades via Up Class and Plusgrade bidding, priority services via Speed Pack/Pass/Bag, lounge access via Pass Lounge/Extime), onboard amenities (Fin Gourmet dining, iZipress digital press, iZiWifi), and ground services (Train + Air connections, NavigAIR maritime links). The airline also provides a mobile application for booking and check-in, plus payment flexibility through Oney installment options.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Air Caraïbes Connect: Service providing access to a wider network of destinations through new connections
• Air Caraïbes Mobile App

Products and services

• Classe Soleil Economy class cabin product providing standard air travel with included amenities, meals, and entertainment for passengers flying between Paris-Orly and Caribbean, Guyane, and other transatlantic destinations.
• Classe Caraïbes Premium economy class cabin product offering enhanced comfort with wider seats, priority services, superior meal options, and increased baggage allowance compared to economy class for long-haul transatlantic flights.
• Classe Madras Business class cabin product providing full flat seats, gourmet Fin Gourmet dining, lounge access, priority boarding, and a premium onboard experience for long-haul flights between Paris-Orly and Caribbean/Guyane destinations.
• Programme Préférence Frequent flyer loyalty program offering miles earning and redemption across flights and ancillary services, with tiered membership levels (standard, Gold, Diamond) and exclusive benefits including priority services and lounge access for elite members.
• Flexil PRO Business subscription program offering discounted fares, flexible booking conditions, and dedicated advantages for professional travelers and companies who book recurring business travel with Air Caraibes.
• Carte Étudiants 18-29 Student discount program for travelers aged 18-29 offering reduced fares on routes to Caribbean destinations from Paris-Orly.
• Plusgrade Upgrade Platform Online bidding and instant purchase platform allowing passengers to upgrade cabin class (Soleil to Caraïbes, Caraïbes to Madras, or Soleil to Madras) with included services such as seat selection, meals, priority boarding, and lounge access.
• Train + Air Combined rail-air ticketing service allowing passengers to book TGV high-speed train segments and Air Caraibes flights on a single ticket with seamless connections through Paris-Orly.
• NavigAIR Maritime connection service combining air and sea transportation options for travel to Caribbean islands served by Air Caraibes.
• Air Caraibes Mobile Application Native iOS and Android mobile applications enabling flight booking, booking management, online check-in, flight status tracking, and access to digital boarding passes.
• Up Class Cabin Upgrade Standalone cabin upgrade service allowing passengers to move up to a higher cabin class (Soleil to Caraïbes, Caraïbes to Madras, or Soleil to Madras) starting from 250€ or 18,000 miles per segment.
• Pass Lounge Airport Lounge Access Standalone airport lounge access product providing comfortable waiting area with snacks, beverages, reading materials, and work facilities, available from 40€ or 6,000 miles per visit.
• Pass Lounge Extime Premium standalone airport lounge access product at the Paris-Orly Extime lounge offering private workspace, snacks, beverages, and reading materials; priced at 60€ or 10,000 miles (complimentary for Préférence Gold and Diamond members traveling in Madras class).
• Pass Zen Refund Protection Standalone ticket refund protection service enabling passengers to claim a full ticket refund without justification, starting from 30€ or 4,500 miles.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• SIXTcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCar rental partnership providing Air Caraibes customers with up to 15% discount on vehicle rentals. SIXT offers quality, flexibility, and exceptional customer service for short-term, medium-term, or long-term rentals across global locations.
• Free2MovecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParking reservation partner offering secure parking facilities near airports across more than 62 countries through partner agency network.
• EntertainupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorActivities and experiences booking partner enabling Air Caraibes customers to explore local attractions, leisure activities, and guided tours at destinations.
• VakanscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPackage holiday partner offering tailor-made stays, packages, and experiences in Air Caraibes destinations.
• OneycoreOthersPayment in installments partner (Facily Pay) allowing customers to pay for bookings in 3 or 4 installments by bank card. Available for purchases between 350€ and 8,000€ depending on installment plan chosen.
• AXA PartnerssupportingOthersTravel insurance partnership providing coverage options for trip cancellation, medical assistance, and travel disruptions.
• KoletsupportingTechnology or IntegrationeSIM partnership allowing customers to reserve and purchase eSIM cards for international connectivity while traveling.
• French BeecoreTechnology or IntegrationCode-share partnership allowing passengers to travel on French Bee-operated flights under Air Caraibes marketing. Services valid on code-share flights except departing from Punta Cana, Port-au-Prince, and San Salvador (Bahamas).
• Credit Agricole Mutuel de GuadeloupesupportingOthersIn-agency payment installment partner (TOP 3 product) offering 3x or 4x payment options for purchases between 150€ and 3,000€ at select Air Caraibes physical locations.
• LADOMsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for pre-reserving LADOM vouchers, which are financial aid instruments from the French government supporting travel to overseas departments for eligible residents.
• Train + Air PartnershipcoreTechnology or IntegrationCombined rail-air ticketing partnership enabling passengers to book train and air travel on a single ticket, with seamless connections and simplified travel planning.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Corsair International: French leisure airline operating long-haul flights from Paris-Orly to Caribbean (Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guiana), Indian Ocean (Réunion), and West Africa. Direct competitor on Air Caraïbes' core France-to-French-Caribbean routes with similar three-class configuration and leisure-focused positioning.
• French Bee: French low-cost long-haul carrier and fellow Groupe Dubreuil subsidiary operating from Paris-Orly to Caribbean (Punta Cana, Saint-Denis Réunion) and Pacific destinations. Competes with Air Caraïbes on the same Paris-Orly base, Caribbean destinations, and passenger segments at lower price points.
• Air Antilles: Regional French Caribbean airline operating inter-island flights between Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, and Dominican Republic. Directly overlaps with Air Caraïbes' regional inter-island network serving similar French Caribbean leisure and diaspora passengers.

Broad incumbents

• Air France: French flag carrier operating extensive transatlantic service to Caribbean destinations including Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Guiana, with hub at Paris-Orly. Larger incumbent with broader network and corporate contracts competing on the same diaspora and leisure routes as Air Caraïbes.
• Norwegian Air Shuttle: European low-cost long-haul carrier that has historically operated transatlantic service from France/Europe to Caribbean and US destinations. Comparable long-haul leisure model targeting price-sensitive travelers with point-to-point service versus network carrier structures.
• Iberia: Spanish flag carrier (IAG group) operating Caribbean routes from Madrid to Dominican Republic and other Caribbean leisure destinations. Competes for European-to-Caribbean leisure traffic with similar transatlantic leisure positioning though serving different language markets.

Regional players

• Caribbean Airlines: Trinidad-based flag carrier serving the Caribbean basin with routes to Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, and US gateways. Comparable regional airline business model serving Caribbean leisure and diaspora travelers, though based in a different geographic market.
• LIAT (Antigua-based): Caribbean regional airline operating inter-island service across the Eastern Caribbean (Antigua, Saint-Martin, Dominica, Saint-Barthélemy, etc.). Comparable regional carrier serving similar island-hopping leisure and resident travel demand in the Caribbean basin.

Others

• Vakans: Air Caraïbes' package holiday partner offering bundled flight+hotel stays in Caribbean destinations. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than competitor, demonstrating how ancillary partnerships expand the addressable travel spend per passenger.
• Plusgrade: Technology vendor powering Air Caraïbes' cabin upgrade auction platform (Up Class and Plusgrade-powered instant upgrades). Adjacent ecosystem enabler rather than competitor, providing the ancillary monetization infrastructure for premium seat capture.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aircaraibes
• Facebookfacebook.com/aircaraibes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/air-caraibes
• Instagraminstagram.com/aircaraibes

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Air Caraibes