Air Charter Service Does 30,000 Flights in a Year

Air Charter Services, a leading aircraft charter specialist, recently announced that 2024 was the first year it had exceeded 30,000 charter flights. The 35-year-old company with offices on five continents flew 30,290 flights to more than 200 countries in 2024. The 30,000+ flights include those operated by its private jet, commercial, and cargo businesses.

Air Charter Services (ACS) has seen steady growth throughout its history by following a strategy built around personal service and relationships, an approach they have retained when diversifying geographically and across market segments. Still, achieving the 30,000 flight milestone also points to the company's buying power and continued investment in its systems and people to continue on its growth path, particularly in the North American market.

Chris Leach, Founder and Chairman of ACS, said of the milestone: “In 2024 we arranged 30,290 flights, which is a magnificent achievement in one year. That means that, on average, a flight arranged by ACS took off somewhere around the world every 17 and a half minutes on every day in 2024.”

He added, “The sheer diversity of what we flew and where we flew every year is also remarkable. Flights arranged by us were an integral part of evacuations and relief missions, helped international superstars complete world tours, and even relocated 39 rhinos for a crucial conservation project! Over those 30,290 flights, we used more than 1,400 airlines, and I’d like to thank them all, for supporting our business and helping us charter aircraft to more than 200 countries in 2024.”

ACS's Personal Service Strategy

Today, ACS follows a strategy based on employee training, standard operating procedures, and global coverage. Each client is assigned an Account Manager who coordinates all the client's activities with ACS. New Account Managers and other ACS employees spend much of their first year with the company in a comprehensive training and mentoring program, which includes several weeks at the company's London headquarters with their global counterparts. The training process, relationships, and global standard operating procedures allow employees to reach across regions and functions, to develop client solutions quickly.

In the end, they build their business around client and market knowledge. Joel Fenn, recently named Regional Private Jet Director, Americas, pointed out, "Ultimately, we are consultants. Our job is to use our resources to offer solutions to solve client problems." So, a North American client interested in scheduling supplier meetings in China can work with their ACS Account Manager, knowing the Account Manager will work with their ACS counterparts in China to arrange the combination of flights and airports that ensure an effective and efficient trip.

Fenn says clients remember when the ACS team went the extra mile to solve a problem, and providing personal service beyond expectation enhances loyalty. ACS has enjoyed substantial repeat business throughout its history and has gained many new clients through favorable word-of-mouth advertising, with existing clients sharing their ACS experience with others. ACS views its personal service approach as fundamental to its business, so it is an investment rather than an expense.

ACS Private Jet Business in North America

North America makes up two-thirds of the overall global private jet market, but only accounts for about a third of ACS's business – so it’s a target growth area for them. A key focus for their growing business in 2025 is their jet card, called the Empyrean Card program. It has three levels, Classic, Gold, and Platinum, each tailored to the needs of distinct client segments. According to Robert Alper, Director of ACS's North America Jet Card Program, "The primary value of the Empyrean Card is transparency. Our quoted prices are fully loaded and include taxes, fuel, and other charges competitors often treat as extras. There are no surprises for Empyrean Card members."

Each card level gives members access to aircraft ranging from helicopters to turboprops and heavy jets. The funds deposited with the program never expire, are fully refundable, and are held by a third-party bank until use, in order to reduce cardholders risk.

Empyrean Classic Card

The Classic level works like a pre-loaded debit charge and is popular among clients who use ACS intermittently, such as when their aircraft is down, or the client needs other options. Classic clients can use the card for any aircraft type or ACS service without restrictions or blackouts, with a 3-hour notice for booking. Part of the value comes from having a contract and financial arrangements in place so ACS can quickly respond with a solution based on the market rate at the time of booking.

Empyrean Gold Card

The Gold level is a highly popular program that also works with all aircraft levels. Like the Classic level, market rate pricing at booking applies, but the Gold level caps the rates for each aircraft type, so clients pay the lesser of the two rates, providing the predictability many clients desire. The all-inclusive capped rates start at $7,650 for a light jet with a 1.5 hour segment minimum. The booking requires a 72-hour notice, and ACS's brokerage reach means they sometimes find cheaper options after the initial booking, with the lower rate passed on to the client.

Empyrean Platinum Card

At the Platinum level clients pay a fixed hourly rate on six categories of aircraft with a 24-hour booking notice – so more like a standard jet card. They also enjoy standard cancelation terms, including no fees for cancelations 48 hours in advance. Another feature is the guaranteed recovery when there are mechanical issues with the aircraft.

Across the three levels, Empyrean cardholders can use their balances toward jet card or on-demand charter solutions. They also gain access to ACS's Travel Services group, which offers end-to-end luxury travel arrangements. Whether clients need chauffeurs, luxury hotels, tours, personal chefs, or yachts, the Travel Services team will arrange part or every aspect of a client's trip to premiere destinations and experiences worldwide.

On-Demand Charter

Air Charter Service also provides on-demand charter services, which are used by customers booking on a one-off basis. Of course, pricing is based on market rates, and the process takes additional time compared to the Empyrean Card due to the need for appropriate contractual and financial arrangements for each flight.

North American Growth Plans

ACS anticipates continued growth in North America by following the personal service model that is the core of its business. ACS says it is unlikely to have a celebrity sponsor promote its services anytime soon - a comment aimed at some of its competitors. Instead, you can expect them to continue growing their network of North American sales offices - now at 13 - to service existing clients and engage with potential clients who value their consultative and transparent approach to the aircraft brokerage business.