What HOP! does

HOP! SAS is a French short and medium-haul regional airline subsidiary of Air France-KLM Group, operating from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Lyon-Saint Exupéry airports to more than 50 French and European destinations with a fleet of 36 Embraer E-Jet aircraft (E170, E190, and E195) powered by GE CF34 engines. Founded in 2016 following the rebranding of Airlinair, HOP! employs approximately 1,500 people, with flight crew accounting for 60% of headcount, and serves both business and leisure travelers through Air France's booking platforms, airport counters, and travel agents. Its operational headquarters and Operations Control Center are at Nantes Atlantique Airport (Bouguenais), with crew bases at Paris-CDG and Lyon, and the main engineering and maintenance infrastructure at Clermont-Ferrand.

The company runs three integrated business lines. First, commercial air transport: scheduled passenger operations across France and Europe, with a fleet-wide Embraer 190 cabin retrofit (110 Expliseat seats, USB A/C charging, free very high-speed WiFi for all passengers) underway and targeted for completion by summer 2026. Second, an Engineering & Maintenance division (MRO) certified under EASA Part 145, Part CAMO, and Part 21 J, providing CAMO, base maintenance (Check A/C), line maintenance across Embraer E-jet, Airbus A320, and Boeing 737 platforms, and logistical services to third-party regional airlines including Air France, Air Senegal, German Airways, KLM Cityhopper, Royal Air Maroc, and Transavia. Third, a Part 147-certified Maintenance Training Center in Clermont-Ferrand, unique in France for type qualification training on Embraer 170/190 series, which also feeds HOP!'s internal recruitment pipeline.

HOP!'s revenue model combines passenger ticket sales (transaction-based), ACMI/wet-lease services (managed services, exemplified by the June 2025 KLM Cityhopper Amsterdam–Nantes contract), third-party MRO (professional services quoted per scope), and Part 145/147 training (professional services). Distribution is primarily through Air France's digital booking channels, airport counters, and direct B2B contracts for ACMI/MRO. The company holds IOSA certification (renewed biennially), an Air Carrier Certificate, and a Professional Equality Index score of 87/100 (above the 75/100 French threshold for the fifth consecutive year). It is also exploring AI applications in predictive maintenance, weather forecasting, and generative AI-assisted safety reporting, though these remain in exploratory stages.

Name

HOP!

Legal name

HOP! SAS

Website

https://hop.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

HOP! SAS is a French short and medium-haul regional airline subsidiary of Air France-KLM Group, operating 36 Embraer E-Jet aircraft from Paris-CDG and Lyon-Saint Exupéry to 50+ French and European destinations, with integrated MRO and Part 147 maintenance training divisions serving third-party regional airlines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Airline Services

NAICS

Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation (481111), Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

On-Demand Scheduled Commuter (Part 135/Small Aircraft Scheduled) (THABACAN)

akta.pro secondary industry

MRO Engineering, Technical Publications & CAMO Support (IMABALAO)

Keywords

• Regional airline services
• Aircraft maintenance MRO
• Aviation maintenance training
• Wet lease operations
• Short-haul flights

Headquarters

HQ city

Bouguenais

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ticket Sales: Revenue from direct ticket sales to business and leisure travelers on short and medium-haul routes across France and Europe from Paris-CDG and Lyon-St Exupéry airports.
2. ACMI/Wet Lease Operations: HOP! operates flights on behalf of other airlines such as KLM Cityhopper (Amsterdam-Nantes route since June 2025), generating revenue through aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance provision.
3. MRO Services: Engineering & Maintenance division provides aircraft maintenance services (CAMO, base maintenance, line maintenance) to third-party airlines including Air France, Air Senegal, German Airways, KLM Cityhopper, Royal Air Maroc, and Transavia.
4. Training Services: Maintenance training center offers Part 145 and Part 147 training courses for aircraft maintenance personnel, including type ratings for Embraer 170/190 series aircraft.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

HOP! operates short and medium-haul commercial airline services primarily from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Lyon-Saint Exupéry airports, serving French, European, and North African destinations with a fleet of 36 Embraer E-Jet aircraft. The company also provides Engineering & Maintenance (MRO) services including CAMO, base and line maintenance for E-jet, A320, and B737 aircraft, along with an EASA Part 147 certified Maintenance Training Center offering type qualification courses on Embraer 170/190 aircraft.

Product overview

HOP! is a short and medium-haul airline subsidiary of the Air France-KLM Group, operating a fleet of 36 Embraer aircraft (E170 and E190 variants) from Paris CDG and Lyon airports. The company offers three interconnected core services: commercial air transport operations, Engineering & Maintenance (MRO) services backed by over 20 years of experience on regional aircraft with Part CAMO and Part 145 approvals, and a Part 147 certified Maintenance Training Center unique in France that provides Type Qualification training on Embraer aircraft under real operating conditions. The MRO division serves both internal fleet needs and external regional airline customers including Air France, Air Senegal, German Airways, KLM Cityhopper, Royal Air Maroc, and Transavia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HOP! Commercial Air Transport
• Engineering & Maintenance (MRO)
• Maintenance Training Center (Part 147)
• ACMI / Wet Lease Operations
• New Embraer 190 Cabin Configuration

Quantifiable outcome

• New cabin configuration reduces seat weight while increasing comfort with USB charging and WiFi access for all passengers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KLM CityhoppercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 27 June 2025HOP! operates the Amsterdam-Nantes route on behalf of KLM Cityhopper since June 27, 2025, providing aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance under wet lease arrangement.
• Air FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company of Air France-KLM Group. HOP! provides MRO services to Air France and operates as an integral part of the Air France regional network, connecting to the global route network via Paris-CDG hub.
• Personn'ailesminorOthersAir France KLM group's LGBTQI+ association. HOP! has signed a sponsorship agreement with Personn'ailes to improve inclusion of LGBTQI+ staff and combat stereotypes and discrimination.
• Les hôtesses de l'air contre le cancerminorOthersAssociation of flight attendants against cancer. HOP! partners with this association for 'Pink Flights' during Breast Cancer Awareness Month (October Rose).
• Les Hommes de l'AirminorOthersAssociation supporting men's health and mental health awareness. HOP! participates in 'Moustache flights' organized in partnership with this association.
• Roger Claustres High SchoolminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership agreement signed February 7, 2025 between HOP!, Roger Claustres High School (near HOP! main maintenance base in Clermont-Ferrand), and GRETA Auvergne for professional aviation training.
• GRETA AuvergneminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership agreement signed February 7, 2025 between HOP!, Roger Claustres High School, and GRETA Auvergne for professional aviation training. Three-year partnership to support recruitment needs.
• AFMAÉminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTraining partner for CQP (Certificat de Qualification Professionnelle) cabin crew certification program for HOP! flight attendant trainees.
• Les GuyardsminorOthersCertifying body for CQP PNC (Certificate of Professional Competence for Flight Attendants) for HOP! cabin crew training program.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• KLM Cityhopper: Regional subsidiary of KLM within Air France-KLM Group, operating Embraer E-Jets on European routes from Amsterdam. Most directly comparable to HOP! as the group's other regional jet operator and HOP!'s first ACMI/wet-lease customer.
• Lufthansa CityLine: Regional carrier for the Lufthansa Group, operating Embraer and CRJ aircraft from German hubs. Closely comparable to HOP! in role as group regional feeder, fleet profile, and short-haul European network structure.
• easyJet: European short-haul carrier with significant French point-to-point operations. Directly competes with HOP! on regional French and intra-European routes for price-sensitive leisure and SME business travelers.
• Volotea: Spanish/French-headquartered regional carrier operating Airbus A319s on thinner intra-European routes. Comparable to HOP! in targeting regional connectivity between secondary European cities.
• Air Nostrum (Iberia Regional): Regional franchise partner of Iberia (IAG) operating regional jets and turboprops across Spain and Europe. Closely comparable to HOP! as a group-affiliated regional carrier feeding a major network via a hub.
• Luxair: National airline of Luxembourg operating regional routes across Europe with a small mixed fleet and MRO activities. Comparable to HOP! as a small European regional operator combining passenger and maintenance services.
• Chalair Aviation: French regional airline operating scheduled and charter services plus ACMI operations from regional French airports. Comparable to HOP! as a French regional operator providing both passenger and wet-lease capacity.

Broad incumbents

• Air France: HOP!'s parent airline and AF-KLM Group flagship full-service network carrier. Comparable as the broader commercial and brand umbrella under which HOP! feeds the long-haul network.
• Transavia France: AF-KLM Group's low-cost leisure subsidiary. Comparable as another AF-KLM short-haul operator, but positioned in the leisure/LCC segment rather than HOP!'s regional scheduled feeder role.

Others

• Sabena technics: Independent European MRO provider serving commercial, regional and military aircraft. Comparable to HOP!'s Engineering & Maintenance division as a competitor for third-party E-jet, A320 and B737 MRO contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/compagnie-hop

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 HOP!