Air Charter International

AIR CHARTER INTERNATIONAL
 

✈️ Overview

Air Charter International was a French charter airline active between 1966 and 1998. It operated international charter flights from its main hub at Paris‑Orly Airport. The airline was majority-owned by Air France and Air Inter.

The company operated Caravelle, Boeing 727, and later Airbus A300 and A320 aircraft for domestic and international charter flights, including transatlantic routes. It ceased operations in 1998, as part of Air France’s corporate restructuring.

Owner: Air France (80%) / Air Inter (20%)
Type: Domestic and international charter flights
Main Hub: Paris‑Orly
Period: 1966‑1998
 

📜 Origins and Establishment (1966)

The airline was founded on 7 February 1966 as Société aérienne française d’affrètements (SAFA), a subsidiary of Air France created to operate on‑demand charter flights out of Paris.

Flight operations began on 25 July 1966 using:

• two Sud Aviation Caravelle
• two Lockheed Super Constellation

These aircraft, leased from Air France, served charter routes to Mediterranean destinations.
 

🛫 Air Charter International Era (1969‑1970s)

On 8 December 1969, the company officially changed its name to Air Charter International (ACI).

By 1971, ACI had a fleet of about seven Caravelles and carried around 420,000 passengers on charter flights.

In 1972, the first Boeing 727‑200 jets joined the fleet, expanding the airline’s charter capabilities.
 

🌍 Transatlantic Expansion

Starting in 1982, Air Charter International began offering transatlantic charter flights to the United States and Canada, using Boeing 747‑200 aircraft leased and operated by Air France.

The airline also leased aircraft from other operators like Europe Aéro Service (EAS) to support seasonal demand and grow capacity.
 

🛩️ 1980s–1990s Operations

During the 1980s, the company was often marketed simply as Air Charter.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the fleet evolved with the addition of:

• Boeing 737 variants (‑200, ‑400, ‑500) leased via Europe Aéro Service
• Airbus A300B4 widebodies
• Later, Airbus A320 aircraft replaced older Boeing models

These changes reflected modernization and adapting to market needs.
 

🛑 End of Service (1998)

After more than 30 years of operation, Air Charter International ceased operations on 24 October 1998. This closure was part of the broader merger between Air France and Air Inter, which dissolved or absorbed various affiliated carriers.
 

Sud-Aviation SE210 Caravelle III



Boeing 727-214



Boeing 737-222



Boeing 737-500



Airbus A300-B4-203



Airbus A310-324



Airbus A320-212