10 years of French bee, 10 years of affordable long-haul
2016 – 2026
10 years of French bee,
10 years of affordable long-haul
On September 10, 2016, an Airbus A330 took off from Orly for Punta Cana. Ten years later, more than 6 million passengers have crossed the oceans with us, on A350s, at the right price.
passengers carried
flown, or 3,750 times around the Earth
destinations, including 2 new ones for our 10th anniversary
the world's only all-A350 fleet
September 10, 2016: first takeoff for Punta Cana
In 2016, affordable long-haul travel did not exist in France. French blue, a subsidiary of Groupe Dubreuil, set out to make it happen with a simple idea: new aircraft, direct routes and a ticket that only includes what you need.
One Airbus A330-300, one destination, a team of a few dozen people. Two years later, French blue became French bee and the fleet switched to the A350. The idea itself never changed.
Our 10 years in key dates
Ten years, in perspective
passengers since 2016
Three times the population of Paris. And 1.2 million in 2025 alone.
flown by our aircraft
3,750 times around the Earth, or 195 round trips to the Moon.
meals served on board
Including 2.7 million on the Reunion Island route alone.
Airbus A350, and nothing else
4 A350-900s and 2 A350-1000s: the world's only 100% A350 fleet.
flights per week at the height of the season
Adding up the maximum frequencies of each destination: from 14 weekly flights to Reunion Island to 3 to Los Angeles, the Maldives or Sri Lanka.
more passengers in 8 years
93,932 travelers in 2017, the year the Reunion Island route opened. 1,203,322 in 2025.
* Estimates calculated from our traffic data.
From 93,932 to over a million passengers a year
Swipe the chart →
Passengers carried across all our routes. 2017: from the opening of Reunion Island on June 16. 2026: year in progress, data as of November 9, 2026.
* Flights operated from 2017 to 2025: estimate calculated from the kilometers flown on each route. 2026: actual figure.
A year in the life of French bee
Our 2026 figures, as of November 9: a year seen from the inside.
passengers carried
Paris-Orly – Reunion Island remains our busiest route.
flights operated
Including 1,173 night flights: 4 flights out of 10 take off while the city sleeps.
flight time
More than 3 years spent in the air, in a single year.
flown
619 times around the Earth, or 32 round trips to the Moon.
upgrades chosen
That's how many passengers treated themselves to a little more comfort in Premium blue.
our busiest day of 2026
An early-summer Saturday: the day of the year when the most of you traveled with us.
2026: Maldives and Sri Lanka routes open. 9 destinations.
Swipe the map →
Going even further, together
Thanks to 11 partner airlines, your journey continues well beyond our 9 destinations: from Corsica to French Polynesia, from the French Caribbean to Fiji. They have helped French bee reach further.
Long-haul travel for everyone
A French bee ticket only includes what you need. You add the rest: a bag, a meal, a Premium seat. This is the principle that has allowed families from Reunion Island, French Polynesia and Quebec to see each other more often.
Out of 100 French bee passengers…
48 flew to Reunion Island.
Breakdown of passengers carried since each route opened.
The people who make French bee
672 people keep French bee flying every day. They are the ones you mention most in your reviews.
Standing together, in the air and on the ground
Pink October
Pink flights against breast cancer
On our pink flights of October 1, French bee donates all on-board Duty Free sales revenue to the association Les Hôtesses de l'air contre le cancer.
Odysséa
A commitment with stamina
Our teams lined up for the Odysséa race against breast cancer, over 10 km and 5 km, to support research and highlight the importance of prevention.
Movember
The Moustache Flight
On November 23, 2025, our Paris-Orly – New York flight was decked out with blue bow ties and mustaches. Proceeds from Movember items sold on board throughout the month, and from Duty Free sales on this flight, went to the association Les Hommes de l'air.
On Reunion Island, we also meet in person
Our teams welcome you in our two shops on Reunion Island.
All payment methods, including installments, travel vouchers from the Region and LADOM (territorial continuity), and ANCV holiday vouchers.
What you say about us
Voted by consumers (Marque de l'année), "Low-cost airline" category
Best Leisure Airline in France
Gold medal, "Airlines – Overall – Low-Cost Carrier" category
Reviews collected through our Medallia post-flight satisfaction survey. Some reviews translated from French.
A family story, for 100 years
French bee was born within Groupe Dubreuil, a century-old family group from the Vendée region of France, with 7,000 employees across 7 sectors. Its sister airline, Air Caraïbes, has been flying to the French Caribbean since 2003.
The next 10 years begin in the Maldives and Sri Lanka
Two new destinations from December 19, 2026, up to three flights a week, and the same promise: faraway destinations at the right price.
