Every air charter involves a charter operator, but only some include a charter broker. There is a key difference between the two and excellent alternatives that most are unaware of.

What is a Charter Broker?

Air charter brokers perform a similar function to brokers in any industry – they are a conduit between customer and supplier, or a middleman (they almost invariably are men in the aviation industry).

A customer needs an air charter between specific destinations at a specific date and time. The broker’s job is to search their network of charter operators, collect quotes for the trip, relay them to the customer, and finalize a booking with the operator. Of course, a charter broker adds on a commission to the price.

Charter brokers have access to a network of operators. In comparison, operators actually operate a fleet of aircraft. Customers can skip out the middleman and book directly with an operator. However, contacting multiple operators is time consuming and the customer cannot benefit from a broker’s aviation expertise.

Think of it like renting a condo. You can contact condo owners directly, avoid the commission, and possibly get a good deal. Or you can use an estate agent (a broker) who has tabs on many condos.

What is a Charter Operator?

Air charter operators are responsible for the actual flight. They pick up the customer and fly them safely to their destination.

Charter brokers simply create a connection to the customer. Operators must maintain and manage a fleet of aircraft. They are ultimately responsible for their customers safety and must meet stringent federal (FAA) requirements.

Without a charter operator you cannot fly on an air charter. Without a charter broker you can still fly private. In fact, the majority of jet charters are not booked through a broker.

The Key Safety Difference Between Charter Brokers and Charter Operators

Almost all charter flights are governed under Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. A charter operator must hold a Part 135 certificate, detailing their responsibility and ability concerning operational flight control. A certificate relates to an operator’s aircraft and crew, along with training programs and emergency procedures.

Note that a small handful of charter operators hold a Part 91 certificate. This certification is easier to obtain as it predominantly relates to private flights, not charter flights. At Airvel we do not believe Part 91 is an appropriate level of safety for charter flights. For more information you can understand the basics of FAA Part 135, and learn about proposed changes to Part 135 operations.

Part 135 does not apply to charter brokers. In fact, charter brokers do not require any qualification or certification. They do not need to obtain a license or registration. They are not even required to have insurance for the flights they broker. A charter broker can be anyone. Even you. Which is crazy in comparison to the level of qualification and training required for almost anyone else involved in an air charter – pilot, crew, aircraft maintenance, certificate holder.

The Murky World of Charter Brokers and 2019 DOT Rule Changes

Hopefully you can now understand the clear difference between charter brokers and charter operators. But charter brokerage is a murky and unregulated world, so cowboys use clever tactics when presenting themselves to a customers. Search for an air charter or jet charter and most of the top Google results, especially the adverts, will be charter brokers. They spend money on marketing to bring in customers.

The challenge for customers is that disreputable brokers often presented themselves as operators. When a customer booked a flight the broker sourced an aircraft. This had serious safety implications. Customers did not know who owned or operated their aircraft. And this information black hole was also an opportunity for brokers to source the cheapest operators, often those operating under Part 91 certificates.

A broker-arranged charter flight crashed in 2004, killing the son of the NBC Sports chairman. This high-profile incident prompted the Department of Transportation. Finally, in 2019, they changed the rules for charter brokers. Now brokers must be completely transparent with customers. All their communications, including their web pages, must “clearly and conspicuously state that the air charter broker is an air charter broker” and does not have operational aircraft control.

While these long-awaited changes are a step in the right direction, at Airvel we think an opportunity has been missed. Charter brokers can continue to do what they have been doing – book customer flights on third-party aircraft. Some form of license or registration would further improve air charter safety, because when there is so much money swirling around an unregulated sphere it will naturally attract charlatans.

So Why Book With a Reputable Charter Broker?

Reputable and disreputable brokers are par for the course in any charter industry. So if you do know a good charter broker, what advantages do they offer?

Brokers can scour a network of operators and put several options in front of a customer. As industry insiders they can offer you more choice, certainly if you are new to air charters. You can compare a handful of different aircraft, their facilities and price. Good brokers will also vet the charter operator and relay important safety information.

As long as you trust their expertise, brokers can help you access a somewhat confusing aviation world. Charter brokers can also save you time. Contacting multiple operators and obtaining quotes takes time. Simply communicating with a broker and discussing the potential options takes time. It may take more than a day to arrange a flight directly. But with a charter broker that can come down to just a couple of hours.

And Why Not Book With a Reputable Charter Broker?

Anything that saves you time will cost you money. Charter brokers charge a commission and what’s worse, there is no transparency over prices and commission. Customers do not know if they are paying 10% or 100% on top of the aircraft price.

Remember, we’re discussing reputable brokers here. Not the disreputable charter brokers who claim certain aircraft can only be booked through them. All aircraft are available without a broker as all operators will also arrange flights directly with customers.

Another key disadvantage is the lack of flexibility. Brokers tend to have rigid contracts with operators. This lack of flexibility means any changes will come at a cost, and any cancellation is unlikely to result in a refund.

The biggest challenge of course is finding a reputable broker. Some go bankrupt, owing millions to operators, then resurface with a different name and website. And when it comes to your safety in the air, how do you know who to trust?

The Best Alternative to Jet Charter Brokers

Good charter brokers perform one very useful function – they connect customers with air charter operators. But what if there was a better way for you to connect directly with charter operators.

That alternative is Airvel.

Airvel is the world’s leading booking engine for private air charters. Airvel connects you with over 2500 charter aircraft and makes it easy for you to find an operator that’s best for your flight needs.

You can search for flights between more than 4000 destinations in the US, as well as international destinations. Airvel then presents a list of available aircraft, detailing the price, operator, amenities and safety information. With a single search you can instantly compare more than 2500 aircraft. Then you can dive into the details and select what is best for you.

There is no go-between, no endless communication chain with a broker, no time-sucking hours contacting operators. Airvel has everything in one place. So you can simply search, select, pay and fly.

Airvel is not a charter operator or a charter broker. We are an aviation technology company making it easier for everyone to fly, anytime, anywhere.

Just search and fly.