CharterSync
CharterSync is a UK-based digital air cargo charter platform that connects freight forwarders with a global network of aircraft operators. Its AI-powered platform offers full charters, part charters, next-flight-out, and courier services with automated RFQ processing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersKent, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CharterSync does
CharterSync is a UK-based digital air cargo charter platform that connects freight forwarders and logistics providers with a global network of cargo aircraft operators. The company operates from London (headquarters) and St. Petersburg, Florida, and was founded in 2017 by Ed Gillett and Simon Watson. Its service portfolio spans full aircraft charters, part charters, Next Flight Out emergency services, and On-Board Courier solutions, all delivered through a unified digital platform at app.chartersync.com that supports quote generation, booking, real-time tracking, and document management.
The platform's technical core is a set of AI capabilities, most notably ExtractCS — an LLM-powered tool launched in January 2026 that automatically extracts cargo specifications, routing, and handling requirements from unstructured freight forwarder communications — and a Smart Aircraft Matching engine that evaluates door dimensions, payload capacity, range, and aircraft positioning to recommend optimal carriers. These tools reduce quote turnaround from hours to minutes and replace manual data entry in the RFQ workflow, addressing pain points around opaque pricing, broker dependency, and lack of visibility that characterize traditional air cargo charter processes.
CharterSync generates revenue via transaction-based fees on completed charter bookings, with pricing determined per shipment based on aircraft type, routing, cargo weight and dimensions, and special handling requirements. Quotes are transparent and itemized but no public rate card is offered. The go-to-market is hybrid: a self-serve digital platform supplemented by a 24/7 expert charter team, with demand generation driven by content marketing, trade show participation (notably Air Cargo China 2026 and LogiPharma), and direct sales engagement with freight forwarders across the UK, US, China, South Asia, and the Middle East. The company is privately held by its founders with no disclosed institutional funding to date.
CharterSync firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CharterSync
- Legal name
- Chartersync Limited
- Website
- https://chartersync.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- CharterSync is a UK-based digital air cargo charter platform that connects freight forwarders with a global network of aircraft operators. Its AI-powered platform offers full charters, part charters, next-flight-out, and courier services with automated RFQ processing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CharterSync industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Air Cargo Charter Services
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter Air Freight Forwarding (Full/Part Charter, ACMI Brokerage) (TLACAAAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Time-Critical Air Charter & On-Demand Air Freight (TLADANAA), Air Freight Charter Operators (THABAEAD), Air Cargo Charter Specialists (On-Demand) (TLADAAAE)
Keywords
Where CharterSync is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kent
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
CharterSync business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Charter Booking Facilitation: CharterSync generates revenue by facilitating air cargo charter bookings between freight forwarders and aircraft operators through its digital platform. The platform enables instant aircraft access, quote generation, and booking management, with pricing based on aircraft type, routing, cargo specifications, and operational requirements. Revenue accrues from transaction-based fees tied to each completed charter booking.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Custom charter quotes based on specific shipment requirements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
CharterSync product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CharterSync operates a digital air cargo charter platform that connects freight forwarders with a global network of cargo aircraft operators, enabling instant aircraft sourcing, AI-matched quotes, and end-to-end booking management. Core services include full aircraft charter, part charter, Next Flight Out, and On Board Courier, delivered through the app.chartersync.com platform with AI automation (ExtractCS for document extraction and Smart Aircraft Matching for optimal aircraft selection) layered with 24/7 human charter expertise.
Product overview
CharterSync operates as a unified digital air cargo charter platform combining automated technology with human expertise. The core portfolio includes Full Aircraft Charter (dedicated aircraft), Part Charter (shared capacity), Next Flight Out (emergency service), and On Board Courier (hand-carried delivery). These services are powered by AI tools including ExtractCS for automated data extraction from freight documents and Smart Aircraft Matching for optimal aircraft selection. All services are delivered through a single digital platform (app.chartersync.com) that provides end-to-end visibility, real-time tracking, and document management from initial inquiry through final delivery.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Full Aircraft Charter Dedicated aircraft charter service providing exclusive use of an entire aircraft for a single shipment, offering complete control over schedule, routing, and aircraft configuration for freight forwarders and shippers with full-load cargo.
- Part Charter Shared aircraft capacity service allowing shippers to reserve a dedicated portion of a chartered aircraft's capacity while splitting operational costs with other shippers, suited to mid-volume cargo that does not require a full aircraft.
- Next Flight Out (NFO) Emergency air cargo service prioritizing speed by booking the soonest available flight, whether commercial, charter, or a combination, to move critical shipments immediately for time-sensitive freight forwarder customers.
- On Board Courier (OBC) Hand-carried delivery service where professional couriers accompany cargo on commercial flights, providing personal escort from collection to delivery with real-time tracking for urgent or sensitive shipments.
- Air Cargo Charter Platform Digital platform providing rapid quotes, AI-matched aircraft, and 24/7 expert support for freight forwarders to charter air cargo across full charter, part charter, NFO, and OBC service types.
Quantifiable outcome
- Processing times reduced to under one minute for data extraction from freight forwarder communications
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use CharterSync
Customer profileSegments8 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
CharterSync technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability6 records
Feature4 records
CharterSync partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CharterSync competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- cargo.one: Digital marketplace for air cargo that connects freight forwarders with airlines for both scheduled and charter capacity. Most direct competitor to CharterSync given its shared focus on digitizing air cargo booking with a self-serve platform.
Broad incumbents
- Chapman Freeborn: Established global air charter broker offering passenger and cargo charter services across multiple aircraft types. Comparable as a competing air charter facilitator serving freight forwarders with both full charter and on-demand cargo services.
- Air Charter Service: Large global air charter broker with dedicated cargo and freight divisions arranging full and part charter aircraft worldwide. Comparable incumbent competing for the same freight forwarder demand that CharterSync targets.
- Flexport: Digital freight forwarder offering air, ocean, and ground services to shippers. Overlaps with CharterSync in digital air freight procurement for forwarder-style customers, though Flexport operates at much larger scale with venture funding.
- Avianca Cargo: Combination scheduled and charter cargo carrier operating across the Americas. Comparable in offering air cargo charter capacity alongside scheduled service that CharterSync's platform would aggregate or compete with.
Emerging players
- Freightos: Digital freight booking and marketplace platform covering ocean, air, and road. Comparable as a technology-led freight marketplace modernizing rate quoting and booking, with some overlap in air cargo procurement workflows.
- TransGlobal Inspections / JetBed: On-demand air charter and empty-leg platform focused on passenger and small cargo solutions. Comparable as a digital charter broker with a focus on underutilized aircraft capacity.
- Ligentia: International freight forwarding and supply chain services company arranging air, sea, and road freight. Comparable as a forwarder-side customer that would be in CharterSync's target market and could also build competing tools.
Regional players
- Magma Aviation: UK-based air cargo charter operator providing time-critical and outsized cargo solutions. Comparable as a cargo charter provider that CharterSync would either route business to or compete against in regional markets.
- Western Global Airlines: US-based 737 freighter operator offering contract and charter air cargo services. Comparable as a cargo charter capacity provider that interacts with platforms like CharterSync on the supply side.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CharterSync social profiles
Digital presenceCharterSync financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CharterSync leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
CharterSync funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CharterSync M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CharterSync
What does CharterSync do?
CharterSync operates a digital air cargo charter platform that connects freight forwarders with a global network of cargo aircraft operators, enabling instant aircraft sourcing, AI-matched quotes, and end-to-end booking management. Core services include full aircraft charter, part charter, Next Flight Out, and On Board Courier, delivered through the app.chartersync.com platform with AI automation (ExtractCS for document extraction and Smart Aircraft Matching for optimal aircraft selection) layered with 24/7 human charter expertise.
Is CharterSync a public or private company?
CharterSync is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CharterSync founded?
CharterSync was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is CharterSync based?
CharterSync is headquartered in Kent, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does CharterSync make money?
One revenue line is on record: charter Booking Facilitation.
Who are CharterSync's main competitors?
cargo.one is listed as a direct peer. Broad incumbents are Chapman Freeborn, Air Charter Service, Flexport and Avianca Cargo. Emerging players are Freightos, TransGlobal Inspections / JetBed and Ligentia. Regional players are Magma Aviation and Western Global Airlines.
Does CharterSync have an API?
No public API is recorded for CharterSync.
What industry is CharterSync in?
CharterSync's product category is Air Cargo Charter Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLACAAAC, Charter Air Freight Forwarding (Full/Part Charter, ACMI Brokerage), with a secondary code of TLADANAA, Time-Critical Air Charter & On-Demand Air Freight. Its NAICS code is 481212 and its SIC code is 4731.