Air France Hop
A French regional airline and Air France subsidiary created to consolidate regional operations and feed Air France's domestic and European network.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Air France Hop is the regional airline operation associated with Air France and Air France-KLM. It was created to consolidate three pre-existing French regional carriers—Airlinair, Brit Air and Régional—under a single commercial identity and operating structure. The consolidation was intended to simplify Air France's regional organization and improve its ability to compete with low-cost airlines, which had gained market share on domestic and short-haul routes. The combined operation was built from substantial pre-existing fleets and networks. Before consolidation, Régional operated 44 aircraft and served 38 destinations, Brit Air operated 39 aircraft and served 32 destinations, and Airlinair operated 24 aircraft and served 26 destinations. Their operations were brought together under the HOP! brand on 31 March 2012. A registered airline subsidiary was established in January 2013, and it took over operational control from 31 March 2013. Accordingly, 2012 marks the creation of the consolidated operation and brand initiative, while 2013 marks the beginning of the formally established airline's operating role. HOP!'s principal function was to operate regional and short-haul passenger services on behalf of Air France. Its network connected French regional cities with Air France's hubs and larger routes, while also serving selected European destinations. The operation used aircraft suited to regional flying, including turboprop and regional-jet types inherited from or associated with its predecessor companies. Its flights were integrated into the Air France network rather than positioned primarily as a fully independent point-to-point airline. Air France-KLM later pursued further legal, operational and commercial consolidation. In 2015, the group announced plans to formalize the merger of Airlinair, Brit Air and Régional under HOP!, following the earlier grouping of their assets. In 2018, restructuring plans included bringing operations under Air France flight codes and revising the aircraft mix. Air France announced in February 2019 that HOP! services would be rebranded as Air France Hop. The first aircraft displaying the revised visual identity appeared in May 2019, and from 1 September 2019 HOP! flights were operated under the Air France brand and flight code. In December 2020, Air France announced a further restructuring that would reduce HOP! to a smaller feeder operation. The plan included transferring the Paris-Orly hub role to Transavia France and retiring the Bombardier CRJ fleet. These changes made the distinction between HOP! as a consumer-facing brand and HOP! as an operating company increasingly important. The brand ceased to function as a fully separate commercial identity within the Air France network, while the regional airline operation continued to be associated with Air France. Its current structure and fleet should therefore be distinguished from the former HOP! network and branding.
History
Air France Hop developed from the consolidation of Air France's three principal French regional operations: Airlinair, Brit Air and Régional. These businesses had separate histories, fleets and route networks, but together formed a sizeable regional platform. Before consolidation, Régional operated 44 aircraft and served 38 destinations, Brit Air operated 39 aircraft and served 32 destinations, and Airlinair operated 24 aircraft and served 26 destinations. Air France sought to unify these operations as competition from low-cost airlines intensified on French domestic and European short-haul routes. The three operations were placed under the HOP! identity on 31 March 2012. A registered airline subsidiary was established in January 2013 as an Air France subsidiary, and it assumed operational control from 31 March 2013. The new organization operated regional passenger services for Air France, connecting French cities and selected European destinations with Air France hubs and mainline routes. Its role was therefore primarily network integration and regional feed rather than the development of a wholly independent brand proposition. The consolidation also aimed to reduce duplication and costs. In July 2015, Air France-KLM announced plans to formalize the merger of the predecessor brands under HOP!, after their assets had already been legally grouped within the broader restructuring. The company later faced additional changes to its operating model. Plans reported in 2018 included bringing the services under Air France flight codes and revising the aircraft types used across the operation. In February 2019, Air France announced that HOP! services would be rebranded as Air France Hop. The first aircraft carrying the revised identity appeared in May, and from 1 September 2019 all HOP! flights were operated under the Air France brand and flight code. This step reduced the visibility of HOP! as a standalone customer-facing airline, even though the regional operating organization remained important to Air France's network. A further restructuring was announced in December 2020. The plan envisaged a smaller feeder carrier, the transfer of the Paris-Orly hub role to Transavia France and the retirement of the Bombardier CRJ fleet. These measures reflected a broader effort to clarify the roles of Air France, HOP! and Transavia France within the group's short-haul portfolio. Consequently, Air France Hop is best understood as an Air France regional operating platform whose branding and network role have changed over time. The former HOP! commercial network should not automatically be treated as its current route structure.
- 2020
Smaller feeder-carrier plan announced
[1]Air France announced plans to reduce HOP! to a smaller feeder operation, transfer Paris-Orly's hub role to Transavia France and retire the Bombardier CRJ fleet.
- 2019
Rebranding to Air France Hop
[1]Air France announced the new Air France Hop identity in February; the first revised-livery aircraft appeared in May and services moved to Air France branding and codes in September.
- 2018
Regional restructuring proposed
[1]Reported restructuring measures included the use of Air France flight codes across HOP! operations and a revision of the operated aircraft types.
- 2015
Formal merger plans announced
[1]Air France-KLM announced plans to formalize the merger of the predecessor regional brands under HOP! after their assets had already been grouped.
- 2013
HOP! subsidiary established and operations transferred
[1]The formally registered HOP! airline subsidiary was established in January and assumed operational control of the consolidated regional activities from 31 March.
- 2012
Three regional operations consolidated under HOP!
[1]Airlinair, Brit Air and Régional operations were brought together under the HOP! brand on 31 March as Air France sought a unified regional platform.
Products and positioning
An Air France regional feeder operation focused on domestic French and selected European connectivity, with services integrated into the Air France network rather than marketed primarily as an independent low-cost airline.
passenger_airlines · 2013
Domestic French regional flights
Regional passenger services linking French cities and supporting connections through Air France's hub network. These flights formed the core of the consolidated HOP! operation and were designed to complement rather than duplicate Air France's longer-haul and major trunk-route services.
passenger_airlines · 2013
European short-haul flights
Selected short-haul European passenger routes operated within the Air France regional network. The services extended the operation beyond France while using regional aircraft and Air France's connecting timetable.
passenger_airlines · 2019
Air France feeder services
Flights operated on behalf of Air France to feed its hubs and connect regional markets with mainline and longer-haul services. From September 2019, HOP! services operated under Air France branding and flight codes.
Brand decisions
2020
Reduction to a smaller feeder operationStrategyBackground
Air France announced another redesign of its short-haul and regional structure.
Action taken
The plan called for a smaller HOP! feeder carrier, transfer of the Paris-Orly hub role to Transavia France and retirement of the Bombardier CRJ fleet.
Aftermath
The planned changes further separated the roles of Air France's mainline, HOP! regional operation and Transavia France.
2019
Rebranding and integration under Air FranceStrategyBackground
Air France was restructuring the presentation and operation of its regional services after several years of consolidation.
Action taken
HOP! services were renamed Air France Hop, and from 1 September all flights operated under Air France branding and flight codes.
Aftermath
HOP! became less visible as a separate customer-facing brand while remaining associated with Air France's regional operation.
2012
Consolidation of Airlinair, Brit Air and RégionalM&ABackground
Air France faced growing low-cost competition on regional and short-haul routes and sought to simplify its fragmented regional structure.
Action taken
The three regional operations were placed under the HOP! identity and subsequently organized through a common subsidiary.
Aftermath
The consolidation created a unified regional platform serving Air France's domestic and European network.
Recent events
Sources4 sources
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