New Axis Airways
A French charter and scheduled airline that operated under several related names from 1999 until its liquidation in 2009.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
New Axis Airways was a French airline whose short existence was defined by repeated changes in corporate identity, shifts between cargo, charter, and scheduled flying, and persistent financial difficulty. The business originated in November 1999 when a commercial company called Axis Partners was incorporated. It began with cargo operations in December of that year and added its first passenger charter flight in January 2000. Its operational headquarters were subsequently established at Marseille Provence Airport. In April 2000, the company acquired Sinair, a business associated with private aviation and small-scale charter activity. The acquisition supplied assets and operational foundations for the airline that followed. In early 2001, the business adopted the name Axis Airways. That year brought both its first charter operation under the new identity and its first transatlantic freight service. The airline therefore developed across several aviation segments rather than focusing exclusively on a single scheduled passenger network. Its activities included cargo, passenger charters, and later scheduled international services. In 2005, Axis Airways became the first French airline to operate Boeing 757 aircraft, according to the available historical account. The aircraft type was relevant to the company's ambitions in medium- and long-haul passenger and freight markets. The company's financial position deteriorated during 2006. After becoming part of the Axis Airways Group, it was declared insolvent in October and filed for bankruptcy protection with the Aix-en-Provence Commercial Court. The court imposed a six-month observation period and appointed a judicial administrator, while flight operations were suspended. The business was subsequently reorganized rather than immediately disappearing. On 1 December 2006, France's Conseil Supérieur de l'Aviation Marchande authorized continuation under the name New Axis Airways. A new investor group provided capital and guarantees, with Arkia Israel Airlines taking a 20 percent stake. The restructured operation reportedly had 73 employees at that point. The reorganization supported a renewed attempt to build scheduled services. With Arkia's participation, New Axis Airways launched a Marseille–Tel Aviv route at the end of 2006, followed in March 2008 by Paris Charles de Gaulle–Tel Aviv and Toulouse–Tel Aviv services. The company also pursued additional scheduled flying, including a Marseille–Casablanca route, while retaining charter operations. Plans were reported for the introduction of new-generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft, although the airline's later operating history remained constrained by funding and restructuring pressures. During the first half of 2009, New Axis Airways continued to fly. In September, however, it stopped its scheduled services and announced a return to a charter-only model. A related rebranding or operating project, described as Axis Compagnie Aérienne Française or FlyAxis, was brief. The airline operated charter and scheduled services using leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft, but the attempt did not restore financial stability. Flight operations ended on 16 November 2009. The company announced four days later that it lacked sufficient funding, and its liquidation became official on 7 December 2009. New Axis Airways is therefore best understood as a defunct French airline whose history spans regional and small-charter origins, cargo and transatlantic freight activity, a court-supervised restructuring, a short scheduled-network expansion, and a final return to charter flying before liquidation.
History
New Axis Airways developed from Axis Partners, a French aviation company incorporated in November 1999. The business began with a cargo flight in December 1999 and operated its first passenger charter service in January 2000. After relocating its operational headquarters to Marseille Provence Airport, it acquired Sinair in April 2000. Sinair focused on private flights and small charters, and its assets helped establish the airline's subsequent operating platform. The company changed its name to Axis Airways in early 2001. It conducted its first charter flight under that identity in April and also introduced a transatlantic freight operation during the same year. This combination of freight and passenger charter work remained important to the company's development. In 2005, Axis Airways became the first French airline to equip with Boeing 757 aircraft, reflecting an attempt to support larger or longer-range operations. The airline's financial condition became critical in 2006. After joining the Axis Airways Group, it was declared insolvent in October and filed for bankruptcy with the Aix-en-Provence Commercial Court. The court established a six-month observation period and appointed a judicial administrator. Flight operations were suspended while the company sought a viable restructuring solution. On 1 December 2006, the Conseil Supérieur de l'Aviation Marchande permitted the business to continue under the New Axis Airways name. A new investor consortium provided reported capital and guarantees, and Arkia Israel Airlines held a 20 percent interest in the recapitalized operation. The company had 73 employees during the restructuring period. The new ownership and financing enabled an attempt to rebuild the airline as a more conventional scheduled carrier while preserving charter activity. The restructured airline launched Marseille–Tel Aviv service near the end of 2006. In March 2008, it added Paris Charles de Gaulle–Tel Aviv and Toulouse–Tel Aviv. It also pursued other scheduled links, including Marseille–Casablanca, and served a range of charter destinations such as Luxor, Hurghada, Cairo, Faro, Heraklion, and Eilat. The business reportedly planned to add Boeing 737-800 aircraft and leased two aircraft of that type during its final phase. The scheduled-airline strategy did not last. New Axis Airways continued operating through the first half of 2009, but in September it ended scheduled services and announced a concentration on charter flying. The associated Axis Compagnie Aérienne Française, or FlyAxis, project was short-lived. Despite operating charter flights and some scheduled services with leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the airline could not secure sufficient funding. Operations stopped on 16 November 2009, the company disclosed its financing failure four days later, and liquidation was formalized on 7 December 2009. The airline's history consequently ended after a decade marked by corporate renaming, cargo and charter experimentation, court-supervised restructuring, and an unsuccessful attempt to establish a sustainable scheduled network.
- 2009
Scheduled network discontinued
[1]The company ends scheduled flights in September and returns its strategic focus to charter operations.
- 2009
Operations and company liquidated
[1]Flights cease on 16 November; liquidation is made official on 7 December.
- 2008
Paris and Toulouse services to Tel Aviv
[1]Scheduled Tel Aviv services expand from Marseille to Paris Charles de Gaulle and Toulouse.
- 2006
Insolvency and flight suspension
[1]The airline enters insolvency proceedings in October and suspends flight operations.
- 2006
Reorganization as New Axis Airways
[1]The airline receives authorization to continue under the New Axis Airways name after recapitalization by a new investor group.
- 2005
Boeing 757 introduction
[1]Axis Airways becomes the first French airline to equip with Boeing 757 aircraft.
- 2001
Renamed Axis Airways
[1]The company adopts the Axis Airways name and begins charter flying under the new identity.
- 2001
Transatlantic freight service begins
[1]Axis Airways conducts its first transatlantic freight flight.
- 2000
First passenger charter flight
[1]The airline begins passenger charter activity in January.
- 2000
Sinair acquisition
[1]The company acquires Sinair, whose private-flight and small-charter assets contribute to the airline's operating base.
Products and positioning
A French charter-oriented airline that also pursued cargo and limited scheduled international services.
Air transportation · 2000
Passenger charter flights
Charter passenger flying was central to the airline's business model from its early operations through its final months. The company served leisure and other charter markets from French airports to destinations around the Mediterranean, North Africa, and the Middle East. After scheduled services were abandoned in September 2009, charter flying became the airline's stated remaining focus.
Air transportation · 2006
Scheduled international passenger services
New Axis Airways attempted to supplement charter work with scheduled international routes. Its documented scheduled network included links from Marseille, Paris Charles de Gaulle, and Toulouse to Tel Aviv, as well as a Marseille–Casablanca service during its restructuring and expansion period. The scheduled strategy was withdrawn in 2009.
Air freight · 1999
Air cargo and freight
Cargo was the company's first operating activity, beginning with a flight in December 1999. Axis Airways later operated a transatlantic freight service in 2001. Freight operations formed part of the airline's diversified early business alongside passenger charters and were not retained as the principal public-facing activity after the later restructuring.
Air transportation · 2000
Private and small-charter aviation
Through the acquisition of Sinair, the business obtained assets connected with private flights and small charter operations. This activity helped provide the operational foundation for the broader airline, although the available historical material does not identify a continuing standalone product brand for it.
Brand decisions
2009
Return to charter-only operationsStrategyBackground
The company continued to face financial and funding pressure while operating both scheduled and charter services.
Action taken
In September, it ceased scheduled flights and announced that it would concentrate on charter flying.
Aftermath
The change did not secure the company's future. Flight operations ended on 16 November and liquidation followed in December.
2008
Convert further toward scheduled airline operationsStrategyBackground
After restarting with investor support, the airline sought to reduce reliance on charter flying and establish recurring international routes.
Action taken
New Axis Airways expanded scheduled services to Tel Aviv from Paris Charles de Gaulle and Toulouse and pursued routes such as Marseille–Casablanca.
Aftermath
The scheduled-network strategy was abandoned in September 2009 when the airline returned its focus to charter operations.
2006
Rebuild the airline under the New Axis Airways identityStrategyBackground
Axis Airways entered insolvency proceedings and suspended flights, creating the need for a court-supervised restructuring and new financing.
Action taken
The business secured backing from a new investor group, including a 20 percent participation by Arkia Israel Airlines, and received authorization to continue under the New Axis Airways name.
Aftermath
The reorganized airline resumed operations and pursued an expanded scheduled network, but financial problems ultimately returned.
Reported new capital and guarantees. EUR 4 million in fresh capital plus EUR 4 million in guarantees (December 2006)
Sources1 sources
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