Air charter broker.
An air charter broker is a company or individual that arranges charter flights on behalf of customers but does not operate aircraft or hold an air operator certificate. Under United States rule 14 CFR Part 295, a broker holds out, sells or arranges single-entity charter transportation, as an indirect air carrier or as an agent of the charterer or operator.
| Term | Air charter broker |
|---|---|
| Used in | Private aviation, charter brokerage and operations |
| Related terms | Aircraft operator, Air operator certificate (AOC), Charter agreement, ARGUS rating |
| Sources | 2 listed below |
What does Air charter broker mean in practice?
emptylegexclusive.com is an air charter broker.
That means the company finds and books aircraft from licensed operators; it does not own, crew or fly them. The operator named on the charter agreement holds the air operator certificate and has operational control of the flight. A good broker adds value in three ways: market knowledge of which aircraft are where, vetting of operators through audit ratings and certificates, and handling of contracts and disruptions. The risks with brokers are opacity and margin. In the United States, Part 295 requires a broker to tell you the operator's name, the capacity in which the broker acts, and whether it carries liability insurance, before the flight. In the UK and EU, brokers are not licensed by the aviation regulators, so ask the same questions yourself. Never pay a broker without seeing the operator's name and certificate.
Questions
What does Air charter broker mean?
An air charter broker is a company or individual that arranges charter flights on behalf of customers but does not operate aircraft or hold an air operator certificate. Under United States rule 14 CFR Part 295, a broker holds out, sells or arranges single-entity charter transportation, as an indirect air carrier or as an agent of the charterer or operator.
Sources
- 14 CFR 295.5 Definitions (Cornell LII) (accessed 2026-09-20)
- 14 CFR 295.24 Disclosures (Cornell LII) (accessed 2026-09-20)
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.