EASA.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, is the EU body responsible for civil aviation safety regulation across its member states. EASA drafts common rules, certifies aircraft and equipment, and oversees national authorities. Its air operations rules, Regulation (EU) 965/2012, govern commercial air transport including charter, and separate rules cover non-commercial operations.
| Term | EASA |
|---|---|
| Used in | Private aviation, charter brokerage and operations |
| Related terms | UK CAA, Air operator certificate (AOC), Aircraft operator |
| Sources | 2 listed below |
What does EASA mean in practice?
EASA sets the common safety rules for EU member states and several associated countries, with more than 800 staff drawn from 31 European countries.
National authorities, such as the DGAC in France or the LBA in Germany, issue air operator certificates under EASA rules and inspect operators. For a charter customer, the practical point is that an EU operator's AOC is issued under Regulation (EU) 965/2012 and can be checked with the national authority named on it. EASA distinguishes commercial air transport, which includes charter, from non-commercial operations with complex aircraft (NCC) and with other aircraft (NCO). A flight sold to you must be commercial air transport. The United Kingdom left EASA on 31 December 2020, so UK operators now hold UK CAA certificates instead, and a UK AOC does not automatically permit EU flying, or the reverse.
Questions
What does EASA mean?
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency, EASA, is the EU body responsible for civil aviation safety regulation across its member states. EASA drafts common rules, certifies aircraft and equipment, and oversees national authorities. Its air operations rules, Regulation (EU) 965/2012, govern commercial air transport including charter, and separate rules cover non-commercial operations.
Sources
- EASA: The Agency (accessed 2026-09-20)
- EASA: Air operations (accessed 2026-09-20)
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.