Astonfly
Astonfly is an EASA-certified private flight school near Paris that delivers integrated 24-month ATPL training programmes to aspiring airline pilots, anchored by an exclusive Ryanair Future Flyer Academy partnership and placing graduates across 50+ commercial airlines.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersToussus-le-noble, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Astonfly does
Astonfly is a France-headquartered, EASA Part-FCL Approved Training Organisation that delivers integrated Airline Transport Pilot (ATPL) licence programmes on a 7,500 m² campus at Toussus-le-Noble Airport near Paris. Founded in 2003 by Charles Clair under the name Air et Compagnie, the company rebranded as Astonfly and shifted to professional pilot training in 2009; it is now positioned as France's and one of Europe's leading private flight schools, graduating 150+ pilots per year into 50+ airlines and operating concurrent cohorts of roughly 250 students.
The core technical stack pairs a next-generation training fleet — 15 Cessna 172S, 8 Diamond DA42 G1000, 1 Mudry Cap 10, three ALSIM AL250 FNPT II simulators, and two Boeing 737 MAX full-flight simulators at Toussus-le-Noble (with satellite B737 FTDs in Dublin and Berlin) — with an in-house mechanical workshop delivering 98%+ availability and 100% English-language instruction. Two flagship products are sold: the 24-month Multi Airlines Program (ATPL theory plus CPL, MEP, IR ME, UPRT, APS MCC, type rating) and, since 2024, the Ryanair Future Flyer Academy, an exclusive Ryanair-funded pipeline for 500 pilots over four years with a conditional job offer issued before training starts.
The business model is multi-stream: integrated ATPL tuition (10% entry fee, remainder over 18 months) is the primary revenue source, augmented by a €149 selection assessment, type rating training (partner- or self-funded), MEP/IR ME revalidation services, and complementary financing commissions via an exclusive BNP Paribas partnership at a 1.99% preferential rate. Astonfly is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Clair Group, the diversified aviation conglomerate that also controls Astonjet (business aviation operator employing graduates) and Astontec (aircraft maintenance).
Astonfly firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Astonfly
- Legal name
- ASTONFLY SASU
- Website
- https://astonfly.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Astonfly is an EASA-certified private flight school near Paris that delivers integrated 24-month ATPL training programmes to aspiring airline pilots, anchored by an exclusive Ryanair Future Flyer Academy partnership and placing graduates across 50+ commercial airlines.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Astonfly industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Flight Training Services
- NAICS
- Flight Training (611512)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Aviation & Aerospace (EDABALAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Regulatory, Compliance & Type Training (FAA/EASA/ICAO, Part 147/145) (EDAOAFAN)
Keywords
Where Astonfly is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toussus-le-noble
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices4 records
Markets served
Astonfly business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Pilot Training Programs: Revenue from integrated ATPL training programs (Multi Airlines and Ryanair Future Flyer Academy) lasting 24 months full-time. Programs include theoretical instruction, flight hours, simulator training, and type rating preparation. Payment structured as 10% entry fee with remaining balance spread over 18 months.
- Selection and Assessment Fees: 149 euro fee for the Multi Airlines selection exam and Ryanair Future Flyer Academy pre-selection process.
- Type Rating Training: Aircraft type rating training funded by partner airlines (Ryanair funds Boeing 737 type rating for Future Flyer Academy graduates) or self-funded by students.
- Post-Training Revalidation Services: MEP and IR ME revalidation training sessions including 2 hours FNPT II simulator with instructor and 2 hours Diamond DA42 flight with examiner.
- Financing Partnership Commissions: Partnership with BNP Paribas providing preferential rate loans (1.99%) for students. The school facilitates financing with up to 36-month deferral and 9-year repayment terms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Selection Assessment Fee |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Multi Airlines Program - Full Training |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Ryanair Future Flyer Academy - Full Training |
| Hybrid | Multi-year contract | BNP Paribas Financing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Astonfly product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Astonfly runs integrated airline pilot training programs combining EASA ATPL theoretical instruction, single- and multi-engine flight training on its own aircraft, FNPT II and Boeing 737 MAX simulator sessions, APS MCC, and selection-preparation support, delivered to aspiring airline pilots over approximately 24 months. It supplements this core training with a post-graduation competency-maintenance/revalidation service and an alumni placement platform (Astonjob) to channel graduates into airlines.
Product overview
Astonfly is a leading European pilot training school offering integrated ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) training programs. The core offerings include the Multi Airlines Program (24-month full-time training) and the Ryanair Future Flyer Academy (exclusive partnership with conditional job offer). Training utilizes a fleet of 15 Cessna 172S, 8 Diamond DA42, 1 Mudry Cap 10 aircraft, 3 AL250 FNPT II simulators, and 2 Boeing 737 MAX simulators. Students receive EASA-recognised qualifications including CPL, IR ME, MEP, and ATPL theoretical certificates. The school operates a 7,500 m² campus at Paris-Toussus-le-Noble Airport, supported by the Astonjob alumni network for ongoing career placement with over 50 partner airlines worldwide.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Multi Airlines Program A 24-month integrated airline pilot training programme combining EASA ATPL theory, single- and multi-engine flight training on Astonfly's fleet, FNPT II and Boeing 737 MAX simulator sessions, APS MCC and selection preparation, designed for aspiring airline first officers.
- Ryanair Future Flyer Academy An airline-sponsored cadet training pathway, delivered with Ryanair, in which selected trainees complete their integrated ATPL and MCC at Astonfly with a conditional offer of employment as a Ryanair first officer.
- Astonjob Alumni Network An in-house placement and alumni network that connects Astonfly graduates with airlines and operators recruiting pilots, providing ongoing career support after training completion.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1,500+ pilots trained and currently operating with 50+ airlines worldwide
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Astonfly
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Astonfly technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Astonfly partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- RyanairflagshipExclusive partnership for selection and training of 500 pilots over 4 years. Through the Ryanair Future Flyer Academy, selected students receive a conditional job offer before training begins, and Ryanair funds their Boeing 737 type rating upon graduation. Training follows Ryanair Standard Operating Procedures.
- Clair GroupcoreParent company of Astonfly, managing aviation group including Astonjet (business jets airline) and Astontec (aircraft maintenance). Provides internal employment pipeline for graduates.
- Air FranceminorAirlines actively recruit Astonfly graduates through the Astonjob platform. Air France is a significant employer of Astonfly alumni.
- TransaviaminorAirlines actively recruit Astonfly graduates through the Astonjob platform.
- CorsairminorAirlines actively recruit Astonfly graduates through the Astonjob platform.
- Air BalticminorDirectly recruits Astonfly graduates for Boeing 737 operations.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights8 records
Astonfly competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- CAE: Global leader in civil aviation training with a large network of flight academies and simulator centers. Directly comparable to Astonfly across integrated ATPL training, type rating and cadet pilot programs targeting the same European and global airline customers.
- Flight Training Europe (FTE Jerez): Spain-based integrated ATPL academy with a multi-fleet single- and multi-engine offering. Direct competitor in the European ab-initio pilot training market and comparable in its targeting of airline cadet programs and partner placement models.
- BAA Training: Lithuanian-based integrated ATPL training school and type-rating provider operating a growing European footprint. Competes with Astonfly for ab-initio cadets and airline-funded type rating programs, particularly Ryanair and other low-cost carriers.
- Airways Aviation: Multi-location European flight training group offering integrated ATPL and type rating courses across academies in France, Spain and other countries. Comparable operating model, fleet mix, and airline placement emphasis to Astonfly.
- Lufthansa Aviation Training: German-based pilot training group operating the European Flight Academy and multiple simulator centers. Competes head-on with Astonfly for European cadets seeking integrated ATPL pathways and direct airline pipeline placement with the Lufthansa Group.
Broad incumbents
- FlightSafety International: Long-established aviation training provider with a global network of full-flight simulators focused on type rating and recurrent training. Adjacent to Astonfly in type-rating delivery (B737) but broader portfolio including corporate, military and rotorcraft customers.
- Boeing Flight Services: Boeing's commercial training arm offering pilot training services globally, including for the B737. Overlaps with Astonfly in type-rating delivery and pilot pipeline analytics but is part of a much wider OEM-driven portfolio rather than a focused flight school.
Emerging players
- Avenger Flight Group: Florida-based ab-initio academy focused on integrated airline pilot training and cadet pathway programs. Comparable in its integrated ATPL-style curriculum and international student sourcing, though primarily FAA-track rather than EASA.
- Epic Flight Academy: US-based Part 141 flight school offering integrated pilot training programs for international students targeting US airline careers. Comparable in integrated ATPL-style training structure and global student recruitment, though focused on the FAA rather than EASA pathway.
- Ryanair's in-house pilot training operations: Ryanair has expanded direct cadet-program sourcing and partnership models with multiple ATOs including Astonfly. As a customer-turned-developer of in-house pipelines, it represents both a partner and emerging alternative training channel for the same pilot cohort.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Astonfly social profiles
Digital presenceAstonfly compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Astonfly financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Astonfly leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Astonfly subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Astonfly funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Astonfly M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Astonfly
What does Astonfly do?
Astonfly runs integrated airline pilot training programs combining EASA ATPL theoretical instruction, single- and multi-engine flight training on its own aircraft, FNPT II and Boeing 737 MAX simulator sessions, APS MCC, and selection-preparation support, delivered to aspiring airline pilots over approximately 24 months. It supplements this core training with a post-graduation competency-maintenance/revalidation service and an alumni placement platform (Astonjob) to channel graduates into airlines.
Is Astonfly a public or private company?
Astonfly is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Astonfly founded?
Astonfly was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Astonfly based?
Astonfly is headquartered in Toussus-le-noble, France, in the Europe region.
How does Astonfly make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Professional Pilot Training Programs are the primary driver. The others are selection and Assessment Fees, type Rating Training, post-Training Revalidation Services and financing Partnership Commissions.
Who are Astonfly's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are CAE, Flight Training Europe (FTE Jerez), BAA Training, Airways Aviation and Lufthansa Aviation Training. Broad incumbents are FlightSafety International and Boeing Flight Services. Emerging players are Avenger Flight Group, Epic Flight Academy and Ryanair's in-house pilot training operations.
Does Astonfly have an API?
No public API is recorded for Astonfly.
What industry is Astonfly in?
Astonfly's product category is Flight Training Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDABALAC, Aviation & Aerospace, with a secondary code of EDAOAFAN, Regulatory, Compliance & Type Training (FAA/EASA/ICAO, Part 147/145). Its NAICS code is 611512.