Charter broker vs operator: what's the difference?

• An operator flies the aircraft. It holds the certificate that allows it to carry paying passengers (in the US a Part 135 certificate, elsewhere an air operator certificate or AOC), employs or contracts the pilots, and holds operational control of the flight.
• A broker arranges the flight. It finds an operator and an aircraft for your trip, handles the quote and the paperwork, and introduces you to the operator. A broker does not fly the aircraft.

Some companies are both, with their own aircraft and a brokerage arm. If a company says it operates, ask for its certificate. If it says it is a broker, ask who the operator is.

The operator is the company the aviation authority has approved to fly passengers for hire. In practice it:

• holds the AOC or Part 135 certificate, and with it operations specifications that set out what the operator may do;
• has the aircraft on its certificate, and keeps them maintained to the required standard;
• employs or contracts the pilots and crew;
• holds operational control: the authority over starting, continuing and ending the flight;
• signs the charter contract with you or with your broker, and carries the flight's insurance.

If something goes wrong on the day, the operator is the party responsible for the flight. The FAA lists "am I liable for the flight (do I have operational control)?" as one of its red flags for illegal charter, because a passenger should never be in that position on a legal charter.

A broker sits between you and the operator. A good broker:

• takes your trip details and asks the questions that decide the aircraft: passengers, bags, runway and range;
• gets quotes from operators and tells you which aircraft they are for;
• checks that the operator and aircraft are authorized for the flight;
• handles the paperwork and the payment steps;
• is your contact if something changes.

Acting as a broker, a company doesn't fly the aircraft or hold operational control, and the AOC on the flight is the operator's, not the broker's.

What the rules say about brokers

The rules differ by country. Two examples we checked:

• United States. The Department of Transportation regulates air charter brokers under 14 CFR Part 295. A broker arranges single-entity charter air transportation using a direct air carrier, which is the party that has control over the operational functions of the flight. Under section 295.23, a broker's advertising, including web pages, has to say clearly that it is a broker, that it is not a direct air carrier in operational control of aircraft, and that the flight will be provided by a properly licensed direct air carrier. Under section 295.20, a broker may not sell charter on an operator that does not hold the required DOT economic authority and FAA safety authority.
• United Kingdom. The UK CAA says the company that sold you a flight (the ticket seller) may be a different entity from the operator, and that by law you must be told the operator's name. It advises you to check the operator on the CAA's list of AOC holders. See Making sure your flight is legal.

If you are unsure, ask two questions: "Who holds operational control of the flight?" and "Who is the operator, and what is its certificate number?" A legitimate broker can answer both, in time for you to check the operator before you pay it or sign its charter contract. Our guide on how to verify a private jet operator shows how.

This is worth asking about. Brokers earn money in different ways, and there is no single rule. Some add a margin to the operator's price, some take a commission from the operator, and some charge a fee. Ask the broker:

1. Who do I pay, and how much, and when?
2. Does the price include a broker fee, and is it itemized?
3. Do I pay the operator directly, or does the money go through you?
4. What happens to my money if the flight is canceled?

You are entitled to clear answers to all four before you commit.

A broker can help when you do not know which operators have an aircraft that fits your trip, when you need several quotes quickly, or when you want one contact for the arrangement. Going to an operator directly can make sense if you already know the operator you want and its aircraft. Either way, the checks are the same: the operator's certificate, the aircraft, and the payment terms.

Jettura is a private-jet empty-leg and shared-flight marketplace by Certified Jets LLC, an air charter broker. Clients pay Jettura a flat USD 999 fee with no markup and pay the aircraft operator directly; the operator, not Jettura, operates the flight.

In practice:

• You tell us your trip, or look at the board of empty legs and shared flights. A price on the board is an estimate until the operator confirms it, and the operator confirms availability.
• Before you pay anything, we confirm the operator holds a valid AOC for the aircraft flying you.
• You pay Jettura the flat fee, by card, when you book. The operator's name and contact details come with the introduction, after the fee is paid, as our Terms of Service set out. On a shared flight, the introduction comes once every party has paid.
• You agree the charter with the operator and pay the operator directly.

Read the details in how it works, and the Terms of Service for what the fee covers and what happens if the operator can't honor a confirmed price. You can check the operator we introduce with the steps in the verification guide.