Born in October 1943, an alumnus of Ecole nationale d’administration and a graduate of Institut d’études politiques de Paris with an advanced degree in law, Jean-Cyril Spinetta began his career in the General Inspectorate of Education in France. He was subsequently appointed chief of staff to Michel Delebarre at the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Professional Education.
He held these same duties for the minister at the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment from May to June 1988, at the Ministry of Transportation and the Sea, and at the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing, Transportation and the Sea in 1989 and 1990. Jean-Cyril Spinetta was chairman and CEO of Air Inter from November 1990 to October 1993, then special assistant to President François Mitterand from February 1994 to May 1995. He was also an advisor to the cabinet of European Commissioner Edith Cresson in 1995 and 1996. He became chairman and CEO of Air France in 1997 and subsequently chairman and CEO of Air France-KLM when those companies merged in September 2004, a position he held until 2009.
Since January 2009, he has been chairman of the boards of directors of Air France-KLM and of Air France.