La Compagnie
French boutique airline offering all-business-class transatlantic flights with a lower-cost operating model.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
La Compagnie is a French boutique airline legally incorporated as DreamJet SAS. It was established in 2013 by French airline entrepreneur Frantz Yvelin with the aim of creating an all-business-class carrier whose fares would be materially lower than those of traditional full-service airlines. The concept combined a premium cabin with a comparatively focused network, a small fleet, simplified service design, and an operating structure centered on transatlantic routes. The airline began scheduled revenue operations on 21 July 2014 under the La Compagnie name, flying from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Newark Liberty International Airport with a Boeing 757-200. Its product was deliberately narrower than that of major network airlines: every seat was sold as business class, rather than dividing the aircraft between economy, premium economy, and business cabins. The original proposition was intended to appeal to travelers who wanted lie-flat seating and business-class treatment but were willing to accept a smaller network and fewer loyalty-program benefits in exchange for lower fares. La Compagnie briefly expanded beyond its Paris–Newark foundation. It launched a London Luton–Newark service in April 2015, but suspended that route in 2016 for economic reasons associated in part with the post-Brexit environment. The airline then increased frequency between Paris and Newark and later moved its Paris operation from Charles de Gaulle to Orly in 2018. Seasonal services were also announced or operated to destinations including Nice, Tel Aviv, Milan, and Libreville, although some planned routes were postponed or cancelled. Fleet modernization became a central part of the brand’s development. After initially operating Boeing 757 aircraft, La Compagnie ordered two Airbus A321neo aircraft in 2017 and received them in 2019. The A321neos provided a newer, more fuel-efficient narrow-body platform for long-haul operations. They were configured with 76 business-class seats in a 2–2 arrangement, with seats converting into flat beds. The cabin also includes seatback entertainment screens, Wi-Fi, and meal service. The Boeing 757 fleet was retired by the end of October 2019. The COVID-19 pandemic caused the airline to suspend commercial operations from 18 March 2020. The interruption lasted approximately fifteen months, although the company operated some charter and limited seasonal services and received €20 million in government-backed loans. Regular commercial flying resumed on 12 June 2021. In 2022, La Compagnie reported its first profit, stated as €1 million, and announced plans to add Airbus A321LR aircraft. The timing of the first planned delivery was subsequently adjusted to 2026. La Compagnie’s current identity remains that of a specialist premium airline rather than a broad network carrier. Its core proposition is a fully business-class cabin, transatlantic service linking France and the United States, and a more accessible fare structure than many legacy-carrier business-class products. The company also operates the My Compagnie frequent-flyer program and maintains partnerships including Worldwide by easyJet and Hahn Air, without operating conventional codeshare agreements. Its principal commercial challenge is balancing the high costs of long-haul premium service with the limited scale and route concentration of a boutique airline.
History
La Compagnie was created in October 2013 as DreamJet SAS by French airline entrepreneur Frantz Yvelin. Yvelin had previously founded L’Avion, a French all-business-class airline that was sold to British Airways and subsequently became part of OpenSkies. For La Compagnie, he developed a similar premium-cabin concept but sought to apply a lower-cost structure and focus on a limited number of routes. Peter Luethi, a former Jet Airways chief operating officer, and several other aviation professionals supported the project. The company’s first scheduled service began on 21 July 2014 between Paris Charles de Gaulle and Newark Liberty International Airport. It used Boeing 757-200 aircraft configured entirely for business-class passengers. Rather than competing through a large destination network, La Compagnie emphasized a simple proposition: every seat would be a premium seat, and fares would generally be positioned below those of established carriers’ business-class offerings. The aircraft provided lie-flat seating and a dedicated onboard service while retaining the compact scale of a specialist airline. The carrier expanded to the United Kingdom in April 2015 with London Luton–Newark flights. The route was suspended in September 2016, when La Compagnie decided to concentrate more heavily on its Paris–Newark operation. The company associated the decision with economic factors linked to Brexit. In December 2016, DreamJet Participations, the holding company associated with La Compagnie, announced the acquisition of XL Group Ltd., the holding company of XL Airways France. The transaction was completed in September 2018, bringing the two airline businesses together under common ownership interests. Fleet renewal became increasingly important as the airline developed its long-haul proposition. La Compagnie announced consideration of Airbus A321neo aircraft in 2016 and confirmed an order for two in September 2017. The airline also experimented with alternative pricing and distribution models, including an annual unlimited-flight pass for the Paris–Newark route introduced in 2017. In April 2018, its Paris operation moved from Charles de Gaulle to Orly. The carrier announced seasonal Newark–Nice service for 2019 and received its first A321neo in May of that year. The second arrived in September. Both Boeing 757s were retired by the end of October 2019. The A321neos were configured with 76 all-business-class seats in a 2–2 layout. Seats convert into flat beds, while the cabin includes large seatback entertainment screens and Wi-Fi supplied through Viasat. La Compagnie also provides meal service and access to contracted airport lounges. Its My Compagnie program allows members to earn points through flights and referrals and redeem them for award flights or itinerary changes. The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted the airline’s operations from 18 March 2020. The planned restart was postponed repeatedly, and the company used government-backed loans totaling €20 million, operated some ad-hoc charter services, and flew a limited number of holiday-season services in December 2020. Regular commercial operations finally resumed on 12 June 2021. The carrier announced proposed seasonal routes to Tel Aviv and Milan, but both schedules were postponed; the Tel Aviv plan was later cancelled. A partnership with AfriJet also supported seasonal Paris–Libreville service from December 2021. In February 2023, La Compagnie reported its first profit, €1 million for 2022, and announced plans to introduce two Airbus A321LR aircraft. The delivery timetable was later revised, with the first aircraft expected in 2026. La Compagnie continues to operate as a small French premium airline centered on all-business-class service, especially between Paris and the New York metropolitan area. Its network, fleet, and financial model remain more concentrated than those of legacy airlines, while its principal differentiation is the attempt to combine flat-bed business-class travel with comparatively accessible fares.
- 2023
First reported profit
[1]La Compagnie reports a €1 million profit for 2022 and announces planned A321LR fleet expansion.
- 2021
Scheduled service resumes
[1]Regular commercial operations restart after approximately fifteen months of suspension.
- 2020
COVID-19 operational suspension
[1]Commercial operations are suspended during the pandemic, with limited charter and seasonal activity continuing.
- 2019
A321neo fleet enters service
[1]Two Airbus A321neos join the fleet, replacing the Boeing 757 aircraft.
- 2018
Paris base moves to Orly
[1]The airline transfers its Paris operations from Charles de Gaulle to Orly Airport.
- 2017
A321neo order confirmed
[1]La Compagnie confirms an order for two Airbus A321neo aircraft.
- 2015
London–Newark route launches
[1]The airline adds London Luton–Newark service.
- 2014
First scheduled flight
[1]The first scheduled La Compagnie flight operates from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Newark with a Boeing 757-200.
- 2013
DreamJet SAS is founded
[1]Frantz Yvelin establishes DreamJet SAS, the company behind the La Compagnie brand, to operate a focused all-business-class airline.
Products and positioning
Boutique, lower-cost premium airline focused on all-business-class transatlantic travel.
Airline service · 2014
All-business-class transatlantic flights
La Compagnie’s defining product is scheduled air travel in which the entire aircraft cabin is sold as business class. The model concentrates on selected transatlantic markets, especially Paris–Newark, rather than attempting to match the network breadth of a major legacy airline. Its value proposition combines lie-flat seating and premium service with fares intended to be more accessible than conventional business-class tickets.
Aircraft cabin · 2019
Airbus A321neo business-class cabin
The airline’s Airbus A321neo aircraft are configured with 76 business-class seats in a 2–2 arrangement. Seats convert into flat beds, and each passenger has access to a seatback entertainment screen. Wi-Fi is available through Viasat, while the onboard offer includes a two-course meal and access to contracted lounges at selected airports.
Frequent-flyer program
My Compagnie
My Compagnie is La Compagnie’s loyalty program. Members can earn points through eligible flights and referrals. Points can be used for award travel or to modify an existing itinerary without paying the usual monetary change fee, subject to the program’s applicable rules.
Subscription pricing · 2017
Annual unlimited-flight pass
In 2017, La Compagnie offered an annual all-you-can-fly pass for its Newark–Paris route. The initiative represented an attempt to adapt subscription-style pricing to a premium niche airline and to encourage frequent travel on the carrier’s most established route.
Brand decisions
2023
Plan Airbus A321LR fleet expansionGeneration changeBackground
After restoring regular service and reporting its first profit, the airline planned to expand and modernize its long-haul fleet.
Action taken
La Compagnie announced plans to add two Airbus A321LR aircraft, with the first delivery later revised to 2026.
Aftermath
The plan indicated continued reliance on long-range, narrow-body aircraft for focused transatlantic routes.
2020
Suspend commercial operations during the pandemicOtherBackground
International travel restrictions and the collapse in demand caused by COVID-19 made normal scheduled operations impracticable.
Action taken
La Compagnie suspended commercial flights from 18 March 2020, operated limited charter and holiday services, and obtained €20 million in government loans.
Aftermath
Regular scheduled flights resumed on 12 June 2021 after approximately fifteen months.
Government loans received. €20 million (During the COVID-19 operational suspension)
2018
Move Paris operations to OrlyStrategyBackground
La Compagnie operated from Paris Charles de Gaulle during its initial years.
Action taken
The airline relocated its Paris operation to Orly Airport.
Aftermath
Orly became the company’s principal Paris airport for its boutique transatlantic proposition.
2017
Replace Boeing 757 aircraft with Airbus A321neosGeneration changeBackground
The airline sought to renew and expand a small fleet used for long-haul all-business-class services.
Action taken
La Compagnie confirmed an order for two Airbus A321neos, which were delivered in 2019.
Aftermath
Both Boeing 757 aircraft were retired by the end of October 2019.
2016
Concentrate capacity on Paris–NewarkStrategyBackground
The London Luton–Newark route was suspended amid economic considerations, including conditions associated with Brexit.
Action taken
La Compagnie ended the London service and planned an additional daily Paris–Newark frequency.
Aftermath
The decision reinforced Paris–Newark as the airline’s central transatlantic market.
Sources2 sources
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