ASL Airlines France
French cargo and passenger airline operating Boeing 737 freighters, scheduled services, charter flights and specialist postal and express-freight operations.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
ASL Airlines France is a French airline based at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport and operating from several other airports in France. It is part of ASL Aviation Holdings DAC, the Ireland-based aviation group that also owns or controls other airline and aviation businesses. The carrier combines cargo, passenger and charter activities rather than presenting itself as a conventional network passenger airline. The company’s corporate and operational ancestry reaches back to the historic Aéropostale tradition. Compagnie Générale Aéropostale pioneered long-distance airmail links between Europe, Africa and South America in the late 1920s, with pilots including Jean Mermoz and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. That company was dissolved in 1932 and its activities were absorbed into the structures that formed Air France. A later Air France-related postal aviation activity was re-established after the Second World War and operated as Société d’Exploitation Aéropostale between 1947 and 1991, although it did not own aircraft during that period. The more direct corporate line began in 1987, when Air Inter and EAS Europe Airlines established Intercargo Service to operate cargo services using Vickers Vanguard aircraft. The carrier was reorganized in April 1990 under the ICS-Inter Ciel Service identity and subsequently adopted the Aéropostale or L’Aéropostale name. During the 1990s it expanded its fleet and operational scope, adding Airbus A300s, Boeing 727s, Boeing 737s and ATR 72 turboprops. Night flying was primarily performed for La Poste, France’s postal operator, while daytime scheduled and charter operations were conducted on behalf of Air France. When La Poste assumed full ownership, the airline was renamed Europe Airpost on 1 December 2000. A major ownership transition occurred in 2008. A proposed sale to South Africa’s Imperial Holdings announced in 2007 did not proceed, but a later transaction involving Air Contractors of Dublin was completed. ASL Aviation Holdings DAC officially acquired the airline on 14 March 2008. The carrier initially retained its previous livery and callsign. On 4 June 2015, ASL Aviation Holdings announced that Europe Airpost would be renamed ASL Airlines France, aligning it with the group’s other airline brands. Today, ASL Airlines France operates Boeing 737 aircraft in both passenger and freighter configurations. Its cargo work includes dedicated freighter services for express logistics companies such as FedEx Express, night postal flights for La Poste, and charter cargo operations. Its passenger business includes scheduled flights from French airports to destinations in North Africa, particularly Algeria, as well as charter services throughout Europe arranged for tour operators and brokers. The airline also operates transatlantic passenger services on behalf of Air Saint-Pierre to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the French overseas collectivity situated near Newfoundland in Canada. This mixture of contracted logistics, postal flying, passenger scheduling and charter activity gives the airline a diversified role within the ASL Aviation group.
History
ASL Airlines France has a layered history that combines the legacy of French airmail aviation with the development of modern contracted cargo and charter operations. Its historical narrative is often connected with Compagnie Générale Aéropostale, the pioneering French mail carrier that opened air routes between Europe, Africa and South America during the late 1920s. Aéropostale employed celebrated aviators such as Jean Mermoz and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It was dissolved in 1932, with its activities absorbed into the airline structures that ultimately contributed to the creation of Air France. A related Air France postal aviation activity was revived after the Second World War. Société d’Exploitation Aéropostale operated as an Air France subsidiary from 1947 until 1991, but did not maintain its own aircraft during that period. The corporate predecessor more directly associated with the present airline emerged in 1987, when Air Inter and EAS Europe Airlines created Intercargo Service. The operation used Vickers Vanguard freighters supplied by EAS and was intended for cargo flying. In April 1990 the carrier was reorganized under the ICS-Inter Ciel Service identity. During the following year it adopted the Aéropostale or L’Aéropostale corporate name, becoming a 50-percent Air France Group subsidiary. The airline expanded its capabilities during the 1990s by introducing Airbus A300, Boeing 727 and Boeing 737 aircraft in all-cargo configurations, while ATR 72 turboprops supported regional services. Its night schedule was largely dedicated to La Poste, whereas daytime scheduled and charter flights were performed for Air France. This operating model made the company an important specialist provider of postal and logistics capacity rather than a conventional independent passenger airline. La Poste later took full ownership, and on 1 December 2000 the company changed its name to Europe Airpost. Under that structure, flight activity was focused exclusively on the French national postal service at the corporate level described in the historical record. By March 2007, the company employed approximately 400 people. A proposed sale to Imperial Holdings of South Africa was announced in February 2007 but was subsequently cancelled. A later transaction involving Air Contractors of Dublin, which was partly owned by Imperial Holdings, led to the acquisition of the airline by ASL Aviation Holdings DAC on 14 March 2008. The aircraft initially retained the earlier livery and callsign. The group announced on 4 June 2015 that Europe Airpost would be renamed ASL Airlines France. The new identity aligned the airline with the ASL Aviation family and reflected its position within a broader international aviation group. The carrier continued to combine cargo and passenger flying, using Boeing 737 aircraft for freighter, scheduled passenger and charter missions. Fleet modernization and freighter growth became prominent elements of the group’s later strategy. In June 2021, ASL Aviation Holdings announced an order for up to 20 Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter aircraft, consisting of 10 firm orders and 10 options. In March 2022, the group announced a further 20 aircraft commitment, taking the reported total to 40 aircraft including options. The aircraft were intended for deployment across ASL Airlines Belgium, ASL Airlines France, ASL Airlines Ireland and an ASL joint venture. ASL Airlines France’s current operating profile remains diversified. It flies Boeing 737 passenger aircraft, including 737-700 and 737-800 variants, and Boeing 737 freighters, including 737-300F, 737-400F and 737-800BCF aircraft. Cargo activity includes contracted flying for express-freight integrators such as FedEx Express, postal night services for La Poste and charter cargo work. Passenger activity includes scheduled routes from French airports to North Africa, especially Algeria; charter flights across Europe for tour operators and brokers; and transatlantic services operated for Air Saint-Pierre between metropolitan France and Saint Pierre and Miquelon. The airline therefore occupies a specialist position at the intersection of express logistics, postal aviation, regional international passenger service and charter operations.
- 2022
Freighter commitment expands
[1]An additional 20 Boeing 737-800 converted freighters were announced, taking the reported group total to 40 aircraft including options.
- 2021
Boeing 737-800 freighter order is announced
[1]ASL Aviation Holdings announced up to 20 Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter aircraft, including firm orders and options.
- 2015
Europe Airpost becomes ASL Airlines France
[1]The parent group announced the airline’s rebranding as ASL Airlines France.
- 2008
ASL Aviation Holdings completes acquisition
[1]ASL Aviation Holdings DAC officially acquired the airline on 14 March.
- 2000
Europe Airpost name is introduced
[1]After La Poste assumed full ownership, the company was renamed Europe Airpost on 1 December.
- 1991
Aéropostale corporate identity is adopted
[1]The company adopted the Aéropostale or L’Aéropostale name and expanded its aircraft and operational capabilities.
- 1990
Carrier is reorganized as ICS-Inter Ciel Service
[1]The cargo carrier was reformed under the ICS-Inter Ciel Service brand.
- 1987
Intercargo Service is established
[1]Air Inter and EAS Europe Airlines jointly founded Intercargo Service to operate cargo flights using Vickers Vanguard aircraft.
- 1927
Compagnie Générale Aéropostale pioneers international airmail routes
[1]The historic Aéropostale organization developed pioneering mail services linking Europe, Africa and South America, establishing part of the aviation heritage later associated with the airline.
Products and positioning
A hybrid French carrier focused on contracted and charter air cargo, postal logistics, and selected passenger services rather than a broad long-haul network.
Passenger aviation
Scheduled passenger services
ASL Airlines France operates scheduled passenger flights from French airports to selected international destinations, including points in North Africa such as Algeria. These services complement its larger contracted, cargo and charter activities and are generally focused on specific market links rather than a global hub-and-spoke network.
Air cargo
Boeing 737 freighter services
The airline operates Boeing 737 freighters for express logistics, postal work and charter cargo. Reported aircraft types include the 737-300F, 737-400F and 737-800BCF. These aircraft support contracted flying for companies such as FedEx Express and night postal operations for La Poste.
Charter aviation
Passenger charter operations
ASL Airlines France provides charter passenger flying throughout Europe for tour operators and brokers. The service uses the carrier’s Boeing 737 passenger fleet and allows capacity to be deployed for seasonal, leisure and contracted travel programs.
Regional and overseas passenger aviation
Air Saint-Pierre services
The airline operates transatlantic passenger services on behalf of Air Saint-Pierre to Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the French overseas collectivity located off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
Brand decisions
2022
Expansion of the converted-freighter orderGeneration changeBackground
The group continued to expand its Boeing 737 freighter capacity.
Action taken
ASL Aviation Holdings announced an additional 20 Boeing 737-800 converted freighters, taking the reported total commitment including options to 40 aircraft.
Aftermath
The enlarged order supported the group’s plan to modernize and grow cargo operations across several ASL airlines, including the French carrier.
2021
Boeing 737-800 converted freighter programProduct launchBackground
ASL Aviation Holdings identified converted Boeing 737-800 freighters as a platform for expanding its group cargo fleet.
Action taken
The group announced 10 firm orders and 10 options for Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters.
Aftermath
The aircraft were planned for allocation among ASL Airlines Belgium, ASL Airlines France, ASL Airlines Ireland and an ASL joint venture.
2015
Rebranding as ASL Airlines FranceStrategyBackground
The parent group sought a consistent identity across its airline businesses.
Action taken
Europe Airpost was renamed ASL Airlines France.
Aftermath
The French carrier adopted the ASL Airlines group identity while continuing its cargo, postal, passenger and charter activities.
2008
Acquisition by ASL Aviation HoldingsM&ABackground
A proposed sale to Imperial Holdings had been cancelled, while a later transaction involving Air Contractors of Dublin proceeded.
Action taken
ASL Aviation Holdings DAC acquired the airline on 14 March 2008.
Aftermath
The airline became part of the ASL Aviation group and initially retained its former livery and callsign.
2000
Adoption of the Europe Airpost identityStrategyBackground
La Poste assumed full ownership of the carrier after its earlier Aéropostale-linked development and postal operating history.
Action taken
The airline changed its corporate name to Europe Airpost on 1 December 2000.
Aftermath
The company continued its specialist postal and cargo role before later entering the ASL Aviation Holdings group.
Recent events
- 2022
ASL Aviation Holdings expands its Boeing 737-800 freighter order[1]
Product launch
The group announced an additional order for Boeing 737-800 converted freighters, bringing the reported total commitment, including options, to 40 aircraft for use by ASL Airlines Belgium, France, Ireland and the group’s joint venture.
- 2021
ASL Aviation Holdings orders Boeing 737-800 converted freighters[1]
Product launch
At the Paris Air Show, ASL Aviation Holdings announced an order for up to 20 Boeing 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter aircraft, comprising 10 firm orders and 10 options for deployment across its airline network.
- 2015
Europe Airpost is renamed ASL Airlines France[1]
Leadership change · Other
ASL Aviation Holdings announced a new identity for Europe Airpost, bringing the French carrier into the group’s ASL Airlines naming system.
- 2008
ASL Aviation Holdings acquires Europe Airpost[1]
M&A
ASL Aviation Holdings DAC completed the acquisition of the French airline on 14 March 2008 after an earlier proposed transaction involving Imperial Holdings was cancelled.
Sources1 sources
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