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The experience of traveling on a commercial airline and on a private charter planes either for business or pleasure purpose involved altogether different experiences. An aircraft charter gives complete flexibility and convenience to fly when, where, and how a passenger want with completely luxurious travel. Additionally, passenger can choose to depart from and fly to airport locations worldwide, something simply can't do with commercial travel, which services considerably fewer airports.
Then who are charter carrier exactly: A charter carrier (CC) can be defined as ‘an airline company that operates flights outside normal schedules, by a hiring arrangement with a particular customer’.
The real advantages to chartering executive jet aircraft become exceedingly apparent when a person considers the conveniences provided. Catering and amenities are provided on the plane at the request. A person drives directly to his private jet aircraft, luggage is loaded and he boards the aircraft. Passengers can fly in and out of small private airports or large metropolitan airports when utilizing charter services. The advantage to this type of executive travel is that passenger can conduct business during the flight or simply sit back and relax as the seats and cabins are large and comfortable on a typical private aircraft charter. The hassles of parking, baggage, long lines at the ticket counter, delayed flights, layovers in crowded airports, and cancelled flights are avoided.
Charter planes are provided for hire for various purposes depending on the need of the hirer.
Charter for Corporate TravelThe type of businessman who frequently travel through air often needs to travel in a hurry and often needs to visit multiple places in a number of days. They also need to work while flying. Businessmen and women can benefit by arriving at their destination on time by hiring a private charter plane for them. For Corporate operations, some corporates own or lease whole aircraft, which are used to aid the
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conduct of their business. Companies employ professional crews to fly the aircraft for non-commercial operations.
Private jets are often equipped with SatCom, email, printer and fax facilities for business people who need to stay in touch while they travel. Charter airlines even provide undisturbed sleeping arrangements and many more private jet options to facilitate a successful business trip.
Charter for Holiday Travel Charter flights have acquired more specific meaning of a flight whose only function is to transport holidaymakers to tourist destinations. However tickets are not sold directly by the charter airline, but by tour operator companies who have chartered the flight. Although charter airlines typically carry passengers (individually or as small groups) who have booked beach resorts, historic towns, or cities where a cruise ship is waiting for them. Sometimes an aircraft is chartered by a single group, such as members of a company, a sports team, or the military. In general, charter flights are sold as part of a package holiday in which the price paid includes flights, accommodation and other services.
Some famous tour & travel operators like Thomas cook and Thomson have their own fleet of charter planes. Their charter airlines are one of the largest in the world.
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Charter for Freight One of the largest carriers to be mentioned here is Luxembourg-based ‘Cargolux’ which operates more than dozen Boeing 747-400F aircraft worldwide. All-cargo airlines are usually unidirectional which accounts for international trade-flows. Thus, the possession of fifth-and-higher freedom traffic rights, which allow an airline to operate between foreign countries, is crucial for the success of cargo airlines. The cargo flight usually takes place at night, as passengers prefer to fly during the day it allows the aircraft to maximize its utilization. Many charter airlines use this cargo transport during leisure time of the aircraft to maximize it utilization.
Charter for Private IndividualsCharters are even hired by private individuals for their family vacations or wedding. Children with doctor’s approval and pets with proper documentation-medical reports for international fly can be on-board in the aircraft.
Helicopter ChartersHelicopter Charters are a highly versatile means of travel, allowing the passengers to land or take off from remote areas or city center helipads; any location can be reached with ease. It is fast, flexible and affordable means of hiring a charter. Small Helicopter charters are ideal for flights of up to 1 hour while larger helicopters can cover up to a 2-hour flight.
Economics of Charter AirlinesThe main challenge comes in front of charter airlines are not of making their operation more cost-efficient with limited resources, but it is about how to generate revenue out of the luxurious service which they provide. So, here what they mainly do is they focus on not laying their fleet ideal. We all know that airlines makes money only when it is in air and the moment their fleet be on land, its maintenance cost and fear of the aircraft getting less efficient increases. Hence, whenever their aircraft is free they try to monetize it to the best. They monetize the aircraft by the following way:
Utilize the Aircraft for Freight
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Many charter airlines like Monarch, RVL Aviation, Titan airways etc have license for cargo or mail trade anywhere in the world. So when there aircraft is not full or when it is un-used they can generate revenue by their cargo services.
Leasing/RentingMany big businessmen have charter planes of their own, which almost lay free. These free aircraft can be lease-out to the airline or tour operator for its utilization. This keeps the aircraft working and also helps the owner to earn some revenue out of it. Even charter airlines can do the same with their un-used aircrafts.
Keep it Commercial for Common PeopleCharter airlines can themselves make there aircraft commercial for common people. They can decrease their cost per seat and sell tickets to the common air-traveller. Through this there resources and aircraft will be in use somewhere and generate some revenue in spite of zero. And passenger will also get a chance to experience the luxurious travel.
In short, charter airlines concentrate on utilizing the charter fleet to the highest in order to get maximum returns.
Charter Airlines ManufacturerApart from Boeing and Airbus who are already leaders in manufacturing big aircrafts there are many other charter aircraft manufacturer which specializes in making it.
Gulfstream AerospaceAlthough Gulfstream has developed a number of popular medium-sized business jets, such as the G200 and G450, the Georgia-based company has built its reputation almost entirely from building large business jets. The aircraft manufacturing company has specialized exclusively in corporate aircraft. They have a long-range models such as the G500, the G550 and the G650.
Cessna Aircraft Having built aircraft since 1927, Cessna’s smaller piston-powered aircraft are what have helped the company to build its name, but its extremely popular line of Citation business jets have helped to define its personality. The company currently has eight business jet models in, ranging from the Citation Mustang, which can hold four passengers in a snug but comfortable setting, to the medium-sized Citation Ten, which can typically hold eight and is known for its breath-taking speed. Others charter famous aircraft manufacturer are Dassault Aviation, Embraer Executive Jets, Bombardier Business Aircraft etc
Some of the prominent leaders in Charter Airlines Industry are as follows:
Thomson AirwaysThomson Airways Limited is the world's largest charter airline, offering scheduled and charter flights from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland to destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia and North America. The airline was formed following the merger of the travel division of TUI AG and First Choice Holidays plc in September 2007. Their charter airlines are mostly accompanied with their tour packages of Thomson travel operators.
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Thomson Airways Limited even holds a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Type A Operating Licence, permitting it to carry passengers, cargo and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats. As of March 2015, the Thomson Airways have in all 49 fleet which consists of Boeing 757-800, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 767-300ER and Boeing 787-8. Thomson airways has received several awards for their charter service like Most Punctual UK Charter for summer 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; world’s best leisure airline by Skytrax for the fourth time in 2014 and many British travel awards.
First Aviation
First Aviation, sister company of Monarch airlines, is a UK’s largest independent charter airlines which provides charter plane services mainly to leading tour operators. They even provide charter service to corporate or private customers for their executive need. They had received ‘Best Charter Airline Award’ for 2013 & 2014 by Travel Weekly Globe Awards. They fly more than 2.5 million passengers to over 50 mid and long-haul destinations worldwide every year. The Group has a wide range of long established relationships with tour operators. Boeing 757-200 fleet is used as a charter plane. In 1980, they become the first charter airline worldwide to order next generation Boeing 757aircraft. But now they are planning to retire all the Boeing 757 fleet and replace it with Airbus A320, A321 and A330. This progressive rejuvenation of the fleets will reduce the operating costs and improve both customer experience and on-time performance based on existing technology aircraft.
The airlines online proposition was enhanced by the launch of an innovative smartphone app and there subsequent updates facilities, which made it UK’s top travel apps with over 80,000 downloads from iOS and android app stores by the year end of 2013.
Other well-known Charter Airlines are US-based Allegiant having a fleet of 66 aircraft; Canada-based Transat having 21 fleet; Germany-based TUI fly having 37 fleet etc.
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Apart from this, there are companies who don’t own or operate aircraft; they are the aggregator which brings the best services for hiring private and cargo charter planes. The Cargo Charter specialists: Air Charter Service (ACS) is a globally recognized name in air cargo chartering by arranging 7,500 full charters per year.. They also provide charter services to VIP, Private individuals and corporate executives. They even provide the facility of hiring a helicopter through their service. Fortune 500 companies, heads of state, prime ministers, athletes, celebrities and royalty are just a few of the high profile clients they have chartered for. These kind of charter service providers helps in monetizing the charter planes laying ideal with many charter airlines. They demand the cut from the charter airlines, in return of the help to get them more business.
Ref:http://www.monarchholdingslimited.com/about-us/awards/http://www.monarch.co.uk/news/flights/2014-news/monarch-airlines-scoops-award-for-best-charter-airline-at%20travel-weekly-globe-awards-2014http://asp-gb.secure-zone.net/v2/index.jsp?id=666/3112/8965&lng=enhttp://ec.europa.eu/transport/modes/air/doc/abm_report_2008.pdfhttp://www.aircharterserviceusa.com/private-charter-executive.htmlhttp://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=183&pagetype=90&pageid=340http://www.ranker.com/list/aircraft-manufacturing-companies/referencehttp://corporatejetinvestor.com/articles/manufacturers-guide/
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