Alexandre Azoulay is the co-founder of Wijet, France’s first fixed-price private jet taxi company. Founded in 2009 at HEC Paris alongside Corentin Denœud, Wijet revolutionized business aviation in Europe by offering a simple, transparent pricing model: a flat hourly rate of €2,400 per flight hour, with no hidden fees.
Who is Alexandre Azoulay?
Alexandre Azoulay is a French entrepreneur and aviation pioneer. Together with his partners, he raised over $23 million in funding and built Wijet into one of Europe’s largest private jet taxi operators, operating a fleet of Cessna Citation Mustang aircraft across more than 1,200 destinations in Europe and North Africa.
The Wijet Story
Wijet was certified by France’s DGAC (Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile), making it a fully licensed airline – not simply an aircraft rental service. This distinction attracted major corporate clients including CAC40 companies, and led to a notable partnership with Air France to serve La Première first-class passengers.
Legacy
Despite being placed into liquidation in December 2019, Wijet’s model inspired an entire generation of private aviation startups across Europe. Alexandre Azoulay and Corentin Denœud’s vision of democratizing private jet travel remains highly influential in the industry today.
Who is Alexandre Azoulay?
Alexandre Azoulay is a French entrepreneur and aviation pioneer who co-founded Wijet in 2009 alongside Corentin Denœud. Together, they raised over $23 million in funding and built Wijet into one of Europe’s largest private jet taxi operators, operating a fleet of Cessna Citation Mustang aircraft across more than 1,200 destinations in Europe and North Africa.
The Wijet Story
Wijet Azoulay’s company was certified by France’s DGAC (Direction Générale de l’Aviation Civile), making it a fully licensed airline — not simply an aircraft rental service. This distinction attracted major corporate clients including CAC40 companies, and led to a notable partnership with Air France to serve La Première first-class passengers.
Building Europe’s Largest Jet Taxi Network
Alexandre Azoulay and his team developed a unique business model that disrupted traditional private aviation. Unlike conventional charter companies, Wijet Azoulay‘s approach eliminated complex pricing structures and replaced them with a single transparent hourly rate of €2,400 per flight hour.
Fleet and Operations
The Wijet fleet consisted exclusively of Cessna Citation Mustang aircraft — a strategic choice by Alexandre Azoulay to maximize operational efficiency. In 2016, Wijet made a bold international move by acquiring British competitor Blink, instantly becoming the world’s largest jet taxi operator.
Innovation Under Alexandre Azoulay
- First French business aviation company to receive DGAC approval for Electronic Flight Bags
- Strategic partnership with Air France for La Première first-class passengers
- Launch of CoJetage, a seat-sharing service on empty-leg flights
- Order of 16 Honda HA-420 HondaJet aircraft worth $78 million in 2018
The Wijet Azoulay Legacy
Although Wijet entered liquidation in December 2019, the company’s impact on European private aviation remains significant. Alexandre Azoulay‘s vision of making private jet travel accessible through transparent pricing has influenced numerous startups and established operators alike.