Gestair
Product brand
UnclaimedSpanish business aviation and charter services company.
Last updated August 31, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile yet.
Overview
Gestair is a Spanish company offering business aviation, charter, aircraft management, and maintenance services. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Madrid, it is one of Spain's leading aviation service providers.
History
Gestair was founded in Madrid in 1977 as an aviation business focused on private-jet access and short-term leasing from major Spanish airports. Its initial business model centered on executive aircraft, but the company gradually expanded its geographical coverage and established six hubs across Spain. The business fleet was later described through four range categories: ultra-long-range, long-range, medium-range and short-range aircraft. As the group developed, it added services beyond business-jet charter. Its portfolio came to include air taxi operations, charter airline services through Audeli Air, aircraft handling, aviation consulting and aircraft maintenance and overhaul. The maintenance operation was initially called Corjet Maintenance and was later renamed Gestair Maintenance. In 2013, Gestair acquired G Air Group's flight-training business, giving the group an additional role in pilot and aviation training. Gestair also participated in the development of a cargo airline. In 1994 it founded Regional Líneas Aéreas with Regional Airlines of France. Based in Madrid, the airline initially operated scheduled passenger flights with Saab 340 aircraft. In January 1998 it was renamed Cygnus Air, and by November of that year it had shifted to full cargo operations. Its freighter fleet included Douglas DC-8 aircraft, including a DC-8-73F introduced in 2002. In 2007, the airline became Gestair Cargo as part of a group-wide branding policy. Iberia was its principal customer at that point. The operation subsequently expanded and modernized its fleet, adding two Boeing 767-300F freighters in 2011. Ownership also changed: following a capital increase, Imesapi held 73 percent and Gestair 27 percent in March 2010. Gestair sold the cargo business in mid-2013 to Arnold Leonora. The carrier later returned to the Cygnus Air name. The available reference material presents Gestair primarily as a diversified aviation-services group rather than a conventional scheduled passenger airline. Its historical scope combined business aviation, charter and air taxi operations with maintenance, handling, consulting, training and cargo logistics. Publicly available summary information does not establish a complete current ownership structure, executive roster or definitive present-day operating status, so those fields remain unconfirmed.
- 2013
Gestair expands into flight training
[1]The group acquires G Air Group's flight-training business.
- 2013
Gestair divests its cargo business
[1]The cargo division is sold to Arnold Leonora and later resumes the Cygnus Air name.
- 2011
Gestair Cargo adds Boeing 767 freighters
[1]Two Boeing 767-300F aircraft are added as the cargo operation expands and modernizes its fleet.
- 2010
Imesapi becomes the majority owner of the cargo operation
[1]Following a capital increase, Imesapi holds 73 percent and Gestair holds 27 percent of the cargo company.
- 2007
Cygnus Air becomes Gestair Cargo
[1]The cargo carrier is renamed under the Gestair brand as part of a new group branding policy.
- 2002
Cygnus Air introduces a DC-8-73F
[1]The cargo operator adds a Douglas DC-8-73F to its freighter fleet.
- 1998
The regional airline adopts the Cygnus Air name
[1]Regional Líneas Aéreas is renamed Cygnus Air and transitions to an all-cargo business later that year.
- 1994
Regional Líneas Aéreas is established
[1]Gestair and Regional Airlines of France create a scheduled passenger airline based in Madrid.
- 1977
Gestair is founded in Madrid
[1]The company begins operations as a Spanish aviation business specializing in private-jet short leasing and related executive-aircraft services.
Products and positioning
A diversified aviation-services group combining executive and business aviation with technical, operational and training capabilities.
Business aviation
Gestair Business
Gestair's business-aviation activity provided private-jet charter and short-lease access from major Spanish airports. Its fleet was organized into ultra-long-range, long-range, medium-range and short-range categories, supporting different executive-travel and air-taxi requirements. The business was supported by a network that expanded to six Spanish hubs.
Aircraft maintenance and overhaul
Gestair Maintenance
Gestair Maintenance was the group's aircraft maintenance and overhaul operation. It was previously known as Corjet Maintenance before being renamed under the Gestair identity. The unit formed part of the group's effort to combine aircraft operations with technical support and maintenance capabilities.
Cargo airline · 2007
Gestair Cargo
Gestair Cargo was the cargo-airline identity used by the former Cygnus Air operation from 2007. The carrier operated Douglas DC-8 freighters and later Boeing 767-300F aircraft, with Iberia identified as its main customer during part of the period. Gestair sold the cargo division in 2013, after which the business returned to the Cygnus Air name.
Aviation education · 2013
Flight training
Gestair entered flight training through its 2013 purchase of G Air Group's training business. This expanded the group beyond aircraft operations and technical services into pilot and aviation-professional education.
Charter airline
Audeli Air charter services
Audeli Air represented Gestair's charter-airline activities within the group's wider aviation portfolio. Available reference material identifies the business as part of Gestair's historical charter operations but does not provide sufficient current information about its fleet or status.
Brand decisions
2013
Acquire G Air Group's flight-training businessM&ABackground
Gestair had expanded from executive aviation into a wider portfolio of aviation support and infrastructure services.
Action taken
The group bought G Air Group's flight-training business.
Aftermath
Flight training became part of Gestair's historical aviation-services offering.
2013
Sell the cargo divisionM&ABackground
The cargo business had operated under the Gestair Cargo brand and had undergone ownership changes involving Imesapi and Gestair.
Action taken
Gestair sold its cargo section to Arnold Leonora.
Aftermath
The carrier was subsequently rebranded as Cygnus Air, separating the cargo operation from the Gestair identity.
2011
Modernize the cargo fleet with Boeing 767-300F aircraftGeneration changeBackground
The cargo operation sought to expand and modernize its freighter fleet.
Action taken
Gestair Cargo added two Boeing 767-300F freighters.
Aftermath
The aircraft became part of the cargo operation before the division was sold in 2013.
2007
Rebrand Cygnus Air as Gestair CargoStrategyBackground
Gestair pursued a group branding policy intended to align the cargo airline more closely with the wider aviation group.
Action taken
Cygnus Air was renamed Gestair Cargo.
Aftermath
The cargo business operated under the Gestair Cargo name until its later divestment; it subsequently used the Cygnus Air name again.
1998
Convert the regional passenger operation into a cargo airlineStrategyBackground
Regional Líneas Aéreas had operated scheduled passenger services from Madrid with Saab 340 aircraft. After becoming Cygnus Air in January 1998, the airline moved to a full cargo model by November.
Action taken
The group shifted the airline's operating focus from regional passenger flights to cargo transportation and introduced freighter aircraft.
Aftermath
The operation continued as a cargo carrier through later name changes, including Gestair Cargo and its subsequent return to Cygnus Air.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/gestair · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled