Affretair was formed as a Gabon-based associate company of Air Trans Africa, when a Douglas DC-8 aircraft was acquired in the early 1970s for overseas freight operations.

In the 1980s Affretair operated two Douglas DC-8-50F aircraft on cargo flights to Europe and within Africa.

By 1998 Affretair was (according to their website) flying a Douglas DC-8-73F into Europe using Brussels as a hub and a Boeing 727 freighter to Lusaka, Lilongwe, Johannesburg and Luanda.

Affretair was liquidated in 2000 under a $511 million debt that had grounded its only aircraft for close to two years.

In October 2001 it was reported that Affretair, currently under liquidation, was selling its assets to raise money to offset its mounting $800 million debt owed to several creditors.