Minerve began operations in 1975 using
Sud Aviation Caravelle aircraft on charter flights from
Paris-Le Bourget airport. Permission was granted for charter flights to the United States in 1983 and those were operated first with
Douglas DC-8 jets and later on with a
Boeing 747-200 wide body jetliner. For charter flights to the
Mediterranean and
North Africa the Caravelles were used until replaced in 1987 by
McDonnell Douglas MD-83. Minerve wanted to expand into North America and created a subsidiary in Canada called
Minerve Canada, but that venture did not last long and it had a negative effect on the parent company. Other investments in
Jet Alsace and Jet Fret created more financial burdens which led to the sale of 50% of the stock to the tour operator
Club Méditerranée. To expand operations, three
McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 wide body jetliners were acquired for long-range services. In 1991 Minerve was operating scheduled passenger services between Paris and Bangkok, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Nice, San Francisco and Tahiti with DC-10-30 jets being primarily operated on the international routes. The same year, the airline published a joint timetable with French air carrier
Air Liberté. In 1992 Minerve merged with Air Outre Mer to form
AOM French Airlines. ==Fleet details==