[1] Spinetta was born in the 15th arrondissement of Paris, the son of Corsican and Italian parents.
He attended the Lycée Hoche in Versailles; then the Faculty of Law at the University of Paris.
He was also graduated from Sciences Po (Institute for Politics Studies), entering after his degree at the École Nationale d'Administration (National School of Administration) in 1972.
After several jobs in different ministries, he became the chairman and CEO of the former airline Air Inter in 1980.
Jean-Cyril Spinetta was replaced by his COO Pierre-Henri Gourgeon on 1 January 2009, and was elevated to the post of CEO.