Unlike scheduled airlines, which operate set routes at predetermined times and sell individual seats to the public, a charter airline arranges an entire aircraft for a specific customer, group or purpose. These on-demand flights can be organised around the required destination, departure time, passenger group and, in some cases, cargo requirements.
Private charters are typically thought of as luxury travel. And, while private jets can certainly be chartered, a charter flight isn’t defined by the type of aircraft. A mining company may charter an aircraft to transport workers for a fly-in fly-out roster, a sports team may need to reach an interstate fixture, a government organisation may arrange travel for a group of officials, or a tour operator may charter an aircraft to support a holiday package.
But how does the charter model actually work, and what makes it different from booking a flight with a traditional airline? We’ve covered the basics below, from how charter flights are arranged to the different types of charter services available and what to consider when booking one.
How Do Charter Flights Work?
Chartering an aircraft takes a different approach to commercial air travel: instead of choosing from the flights already available, the journey is organised around the needs of the customer.
Where are you going? When do you need to leave? How many people are travelling? Once those details are established, an appropriate aircraft and itinerary can be arranged.
The person or organisation arranging the aircraft is known as the charterer. This could be a tour operator organising a holiday, a company moving employees between locations, a sports team travelling to an event, or a school transporting a large group. Private groups and individuals can also charter aircraft for their own travel needs.
The charterer works with an appropriately authorised air operator to arrange the flight, with factors such as aircraft availability, passenger numbers, route, departure times and airport requirements all taken into account.
Read More: How Do Air Charters Work?
Who Sets the Schedule and Route?
This is one of the biggest differences between charter and scheduled air travel.
When you book with a scheduled airline, the airline has already decided where and when the aircraft will fly. You select a seat on one of those existing services and plan your trip around the available options.
Chartering an aircraft provides a different level of control. The charterer provides the preferred departure point, destination, travel dates, times and passenger numbers, and the operator works to develop a suitable itinerary.
That doesn’t mean every requested route or departure time will automatically be possible. Aircraft availability, airport operating requirements, flight times and other operational considerations still need to be taken into account. The difference is that the flight is being arranged around the requirements of the trip, rather than simply selecting a seat on a timetable that already exists.
Who Actually Sells the Tickets?
Not all charter flights require individual tickets. If a company charters an aircraft to transport its employees, for example, the company is the charterer and its employees are the passengers. There is no need for each traveller to purchase a separate airline ticket.
Other charter arrangements work differently. A tour operator might charter an entire aircraft and then sell seats to travellers as part of a holiday package. In this situation, passengers may receive individual booking details even though the aircraft itself has been chartered as a whole.
Charter Airlines vs Scheduled Airlines
Charter airline
- Schedule: Arranged around a specific trip or charter requirement
- Route: Planned specifically for the journey
- Passengers: Usually a specific group, organisation or customer base
- Booking: Arranged by the charterer, tour operator or charter operator
- Frequency: Can be one-off, seasonal or occasional
- Flexibility: The itinerary can be tailored to the trip
Scheduled airline
- Schedule: Published in advance by the airline
- Route: Operates within the airline’s existing network
- Passengers: Seats are generally available to the travelling public
- Booking: Booked directly with the airline or through a travel agent
- Frequency: Operates on a recurring timetable
- Flexibility: Passengers choose from the available scheduled services
Different Types of Charter Flights
Charter aviation isn’t limited to one type of traveller or one type of aircraft. The right charter depends on why you’re flying, how many people or how much cargo needs to move, and how much flexibility the trip requires.
1. Leisure, Group and Corporate Charters
Leisure and holiday charters are commonly arranged by tour operators looking to move travellers to popular or seasonal destinations. The flight may form part of a wider holiday package, giving the operator greater control over the travel arrangements and capacity.
For larger groups, group charters can bring everyone onto the same aircraft and schedule. School groups, conference delegates, wedding parties and other organised groups can travel together instead of having to coordinate multiple scheduled services.
Businesses also use corporate charters for staff travel, executive trips, conferences, exhibitions, roadshows and corporate events. Rather than working around different commercial flight schedules, a charter can be organised around the group’s itinerary.
Sports and entertainment charters take the same principle a step further. Sporting teams can travel together around their fixture schedule, while touring musicians and entertainment crews can arrange flights around performances and even integrate cargo options for equipment, instruments and sets.
2. Private, VIP and Executive Charters
When people picture a charter flight, they often imagine a private jet charter. This involves hiring an entire aircraft for an individual, family, executive group or other private party rather than purchasing a seat on a traditional flight. Aircraft options can vary considerably depending on passenger numbers, destination and the requirements of the journey.
Private jet charter can also extend beyond traditional business jets. Larger executive aircraft can accommodate bigger groups, while private charter arrangements can include airport and ground-service coordination to create a more streamlined journey.
For groups requiring additional capacity, executive passenger charters can provide arrangements for larger numbers of travellers, including departures and arrivals through private charter facilities where available.
3. Mining and FIFO Charters
Australia’s mining industry creates some particularly practical applications for charter aviation. Mining and FIFO charters can transport employees to remote or regional locations where scheduled airline services may not align with roster requirements.
These arrangements can be long-term or ad hoc and can be structured around crew rotations, project schedules and the operational demands of remote worksites.
4. Government and Humanitarian Charters
Governments and public-sector organisations may charter aircraft when standard commercial services don’t meet the requirements of a particular operation. Government charters can support official travel, personnel movements and other departmental requirements.
Charter aviation can also play a role in humanitarian and disaster-response operations, where access and timing can be more important than following a conventional airline schedule.
5. Emergency, Medical and Air Evacuation Charters
Some charter flights are arranged because time is critical. Emergency and medical charters can support patient transfers, medical evacuations and air evacuation operations when specialised aircraft and coordinated logistics are required.
These flights can involve medical teams, appropriate equipment and carefully planned routes. Emergency and medical charters and air evacuation services are designed around these time-sensitive requirements.
6. Helicopter Charters
Charter aviation isn’t restricted to fixed-wing aircraft. Helicopter charters provide point-to-point transport where a helicopter’s ability to access different locations makes it suitable for the journey. They can be particularly useful when travellers need to reach locations that aren’t conveniently served by conventional airports.
7. Cargo and Specialist Freight Charters
Charter flights can move more than people. Cargo charters are used when freight needs to be transported according to a specific schedule, destination or aircraft requirement rather than through a standard freight service.
This can include urgent consignments, specialist equipment and outsized cargo that requires additional planning. These services can be arranged around the dimensions, weight and destination of the freight, while outsized cargo charters address more complex heavy or oversized loads.
There are also situations where a grounded aircraft needs a critical replacement component delivered quickly. Aircraft-on-ground (AOG) charters are designed for these.
Common Aircraft Used
Charter flights can be operated using a wide range of aircraft, with its use depending on the number of passengers, destination, luggage or freight requirements and the nature of the journey.
- Executive Jets: Executive Jets are a common choice for private, corporate and executive travel. These aircraft typically accommodate 4 to 16 passengers, making them well suited to smaller groups looking for a direct and flexible travel option.
- Helicopters: Helicopters offer access to locations that may be difficult to reach by conventional aircraft. Depending on the aircraft, helicopter charters can accommodate 1 to 6 passengers and are commonly used for short-distance, remote-access and specialist transport.
- Commercial Jets: Commercial Jets provide the capacity needed for larger passenger movements. With aircraft capable of carrying 15 to 400+ passengers, they can be used for group travel, corporate movements, sporting teams, tour groups, FIFO operations and other large-scale charters.
- Cargo Aircraft: Cargo Aircraft are designed for freight rather than passenger travel. They can be chartered when cargo needs to be moved according to a specific schedule, destination or aircraft requirement, including freight that may not be practical to transport through standard commercial services.
- Piston-Engine Aircraft: Piston-engine aircraft provide an option for smaller passenger groups, with aircraft seating 3 to 10 passengers. Their size can make them suitable for shorter regional journeys and smaller charter requirements where a larger aircraft isn’t necessary.
What Are the Advantages and Considerations of Charter Flights?
Potential Advantages
- Scheduling built around your itinerary: Flights can be arranged around your preferred departure and arrival times, subject to aircraft and airport availability.
- Keep the whole group together: Larger groups can travel on the same aircraft instead of being split across multiple scheduled flights.
- Access to smaller airports: Depending on the aircraft and local requirements, charter flights can provide access to regional or smaller airports.
- More direct routing: A charter may reduce connections by arranging a more direct route between suitable airports.
- Greater control over the travel experience: Depending on the charter, customers may have more flexibility around seating, catering, baggage and other requirements.
Potential Considerations
- Can cost more than a scheduled fare: Chartering an entire aircraft can be more expensive, particularly for smaller groups.
- Pricing is less predictable: Charter quotes are based on the specific flight rather than a published seat fare, making direct price comparisons less straightforward.
- Aircraft availability varies: The aircraft that best suits your requirements may not be available for your preferred dates.
- Baggage and onboard policies vary: Allowances, catering and onboard facilities depend on the operator and aircraft.
- Experience varies by operator and aircraft: The level of service, aircraft configuration and available facilities can differ significantly between charter providers.
Are Charter Airlines Safe?
Charter flights in Australia operate within the same aviation safety framework as other commercial passenger services. CASA states that non-scheduled passenger and cargo flights, including charter flights, are air transport operations and require an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) meet requirements for aircraft, pilots, maintenance, safety management and insurance.
Depending on the type of aircraft and operation, this can include requirements around flight planning, aircraft performance, crew qualifications and recent experience, training and checking, equipment and operational procedures.
What Drives Charter Pricing?
Unlike a scheduled airline fare, there isn’t a standard price attached to a private charter seat. The cost is based on the aircraft and the specific flight you’re arranging, so several factors come together to determine the final quote.
The main factors that can influence the quote include:
- Aircraft type and size: Different aircraft have different operating costs and passenger capacities.
- Flight distance and duration: Longer flights generally involve higher operating costs.
- Crew requirements: The number of crew members and operational requirements can affect the overall price.
- Airport and landing fees: Charges vary between airports and destinations.
- Catering and onboard services: Additional services requested for the journey can add to the cost.
- Aircraft positioning: If the aircraft needs to fly empty to the departure airport or reposition after the charter, these additional sectors may be included in the quote.
- Seasonal demand: School holidays, major events and other peak periods can increase demand and pricing.
For larger groups, it can be more useful to consider the total cost and convenience of the journey rather than comparing a charter quote with the price of one scheduled airline seat.
For example, 15 people travelling on scheduled services may need multiple bookings, connections, transfers and different departure times. If commercial services don’t align well with the group’s itinerary, chartering one aircraft can provide a more coordinated way to get everyone to the same destination.
On the other hand, smaller groups chartering an entire aircraft will generally cost more than purchasing seats on an available scheduled service. There are opportunities for travellers with flexible plans, however. Empty leg flights can sometimes offer lower-cost charter options when an aircraft is already repositioning for another journey.
Read More: How Much to Charter a Private Plane?
What to Expect as a Passenger on a Charter Flight
A charter flight can feel different from a standard commercial journey, particularly because the travel arrangements are organised around the charter rather than a published airline service.
- Booking and Check-In: Booking is usually handled by the charter operator, tour operator, employer or organisation arranging the flight rather than through a standard airline website. For group charters, passenger details are typically managed through a shared manifest and coordinated check-in process. Before you fly, confirm your check-in location, required documents, baggage allowance and departure time.
- At the Airport and Onboard: Charter flights may depart from a standard airport terminal or a private or executive aviation facility, depending on the aircraft and operator. Onboard arrangements also vary, including seating, catering, baggage capacity and cabin facilities. Always confirm what’s included in your charter before travelling rather than assuming the same conditions apply as they would on a scheduled airline.
- Arrival and Baggage: Your arrival experience will depend on the destination airport and type of charter. Private facilities may offer a quicker exit, while other flights use standard airport baggage facilities. Your operator or organiser should provide clear arrival and baggage instructions before departure.
Charter Flights Built Around Your Requirements
Charter aviation gives you the flexibility to arrange the aircraft, route and schedule around the demands of the journey. You can move your team, passengers or freight on a schedule that suits the job, reach regional and remote destinations, and select an aircraft with the capacity and capabilities you actually need.
With the right charter partner, you also don’t have to coordinate every part of the journey yourself.
Air Charter Network arranges charter flights across Australia and internationally, sourcing aircraft from a network of accredited operators to suit each request.
