The Air Charter Association
The Air Charter Association is a UK-based non-profit trade association founded in 1949 that accredits and represents 440+ air charter brokers, operators, FBOs and supporting companies across 57 countries via membership fees and professional training courses.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1949
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Air Charter Association does
The Air Charter Association (ACA) is a UK-incorporated, non-profit trade association serving the global air charter industry. Founded in 1949 as the Airbrokers' Association by members of the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange, it was renamed the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA) in 1976 and rebrand to The Air Charter Association in 2019; it was incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee in 2006 and is headquartered at No. 4 Hamilton Place, London. Its core activity is accrediting and representing air charter brokers, aircraft operators, FBOs, airports, manufacturers and supporting service providers, currently covering 440+ member companies across 57 countries. It does not develop proprietary technology - its platform is a WordPress website, a member directory, training delivery and event operations. It generates revenue from two streams: corporate and associate membership subscriptions priced £450-£1,350 per year by employee count, and per-seat training course fees (£295-£495) for the Broker Qualification, Air Charter Qualification and Air Charter Essentials Certificate. Its go-to-market is community-led, combining a due-diligence-gated membership process with flagship events (Air Charter Expo, European and US Regional Forums, Spring Lunch, Excellence Awards), regulatory advocacy (UK CAA, EASA, FAA, Air Charter Safety Alliance), and partnerships with regional industry associations (EBAA, NATA, NBAA, BBGA). Operational scale remains modest with 1-10 employees led by Chief Executive Glenn Hogben and Chair Kevin Ducksbury.
The Air Charter Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Air Charter Association
- Legal name
- The Air Charter Association Ltd.
- Website
- https://theaircharterassociation.aero
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1949
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Air Charter Association is a UK-based non-profit trade association founded in 1949 that accredits and represents 440+ air charter brokers, operators, FBOs and supporting companies across 57 countries via membership fees and professional training courses.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Air Charter Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aviation Trade Association Services
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Business Associations (813910), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Charter Flight Brokers & Air Charter Ticketing Agents (THAKALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ad Hoc Passenger Charter Operators (THABADAB), Government, Diplomatic & Military Passenger Charter Operators (THABADAG), Sports Team & Event Charter Operators (THABADAE), Corporate & VIP Group Charter Operators (THABADAD)
Keywords
Where The Air Charter Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Air Charter Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Corporate Membership Fees: Annual membership fees based on company size and type (Corporate vs Associate). Corporate membership ranges from £450-£825/year depending on employee count. Associate membership ranges from £765-£1,350/year.
- Training Course Fees: Revenue from professional training courses including the Air Charter Broker Qualification, Air Charter Qualification, and Air Charter Essentials Certificate. Course fees range from £295-£495 depending on membership status.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Membership - Standard (26+ employees) |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Membership - Reduced (11-25 employees) |
| Subscription | Annual | Corporate Membership - Reduced (1-10 employees) |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Membership - Standard (26+ employees) |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Membership - Reduced (11-25 employees) |
| Subscription | Annual | Associate Membership - Reduced (1-10 employees) |
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Air Charter Essentials Certificate - Member |
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Air Charter Essentials Certificate - Non-Member |
| Per seat | Pay-as-you-go | Air Charter Essentials Certificate - Young Person (18-25) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels9 records
The Air Charter Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Air Charter Association is a non-profit global trade association that provides membership accreditation, professional training qualifications, and industry networking events to air charter companies worldwide. It accredits brokers, operators, FBOs, airports, manufacturers, and supporting service providers through a due diligence process, awarding them a Member Seal of Accreditation. The association delivers three training programmes (Broker Qualification, Air Charter Qualification, and Air Charter Essentials Certificate) and organises major events including the Air Charter Expo (ACE), Regional Forums, and the Air Charter Excellence Awards.
Product overview
The Air Charter Association (ACA) is a global trade association for the air charter industry, offering membership accreditation, professional training programs, and industry events. The core offering consists of Corporate and Associate membership with accreditation, supported by three training qualifications: the Broker Qualification, Air Charter Qualification, and the Air Charter Essentials Certificate. Additional products include the Air Charter Expo (ACE), Air Charter Excellence Awards, the NextGen Programme for young professionals, and working groups for Industry Affairs, Sustainability, and Illegal Charter Prevention. The association also provides a Member Directory, Charter Contract Guidelines, and regular regional forums and events for networking.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Air Charter Expo (ACE): Annual air charter exhibition and networking event held at London Biggin Hill Airport, partnership between The ACA, Business Air News and London Biggin Hill Airport
- The Broker Qualification
- The Air Charter Qualification
- Air Charter Essentials Certificate
- Fly Legal Day
- NextGen Group
Quantifiable outcome
- 440+ member companies across 57 countries
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use The Air Charter Association
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Air Charter Association technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Air Charter Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CLIMBING. FAST. CampaigncoreIndustry advocacy coalition showcasing business aviation's economic value and sustainability leadership. The ACA joined as a partner to expand global reach and bolster efforts to promote business aviation benefits.
- AERO FriedrichshafencoreStrategic partnership announced to expand the presence of the air charter industry. The collaboration aims to increase visibility and engagement for air charter services at the AERO Friedrichshafen aviation exhibition.
- The Baltic ExchangecoreThe original air charter trading exchange. The ACA was founded in 1949 by members of the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange. Historical partnership from which the association originated.
- Royal Aeronautical SocietyminorCorporate Partner - the Royal Aeronautical Society is a professional body for aviation professionals.
- Women in Aviation and Aerospace CharterminorUK aerospace and aviation sectors initiative working towards gender equality in the industry.
- European Business Aviation Association (EBAA)coreEU Industry Association partner. The ACA and EBAA jointly produced the Air Charter Contracting Guide for charter contracts.
- National Air Transportation Association (NATA)coreUS Industry Association partner. Both ACA and NATA are founding members of the Air Charter Safety Alliance.
- British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA)coreUK Industry Association partner. BBGA collaborates with ACA on UK APD consultation responses.
- National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)coreUS Industry Association partner and founding member of the Air Charter Safety Alliance.
- UK Civil Aviation AuthoritycoreThe UK Regulator. ACA works closely with the CAA on illegal charter prevention and regulatory guidance.
- European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)coreThe EU Regulator. ACA provides industry feedback to EASA on regulatory matters.
- US FAAcoreUS Regulator. ACA collaborates with FAA on illegal charter awareness and guidance.
- Air Charter ExpocoreThe main UK event for air charter. ACA partners with Business Air News and London Biggin Hill Airport to co-organise Air Charter Expo (ACE).
- 4AirminorThe ACA Sustainability Partner & recommended programme. Provides sustainability and offsetting services to members.
- Air Charter Safety AlliancecoreA global coalition of leading business aviation organisations formed to combat illegal on-demand charter flights. Founding members include ACA, EBAA, NATA, NBAA, and regional associations from Brazil, Africa, Asia, Middle East, and Europe.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Air Charter Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- ARGUS International: ARGUS provides third-party aviation audits and operator/broker certifications (including the ARGUS Charter Broker Programme, endorsed by the ACA's predecessor BACA in 2002). ARGUS is a complementary accreditation provider rather than a direct competitor, and a technology/integration partner to the ACA.
- Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS): RAeS is a UK professional society for aviation professionals, not a direct trade body for charter brokers but a complementary professional body. The RAeS is listed as a Corporate Partner of the ACA and provides industry-wide professional credentials overlapping the ACA's training mission.
Direct peers
- European Business Aviation Association (EBAA): EBAA is the European trade association for business aviation, directly comparable to the ACA as a peer trade body for charter operators and brokers. EBAA is a formal industry-association partner of the ACA — together they co-produced the Air Charter Contracting Guide and both are founding members of the Air Charter Safety Alliance.
- British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA): BBGA is the UK trade body for business and general aviation, directly comparable as a domestic industry association for operators, brokers and FBOs. BBGA collaborates with the ACA on UK APD consultation responses and is a listed UK Industry Association partner.
- National Air Transportation Association (NATA): NATA is the US trade association for air transportation, with overlapping members including charter brokers, operators, FBOs and MROs. NATA is a co-founding member of the Air Charter Safety Alliance with the ACA and is the most direct US counterpart serving the same membership segments.
- National Business Aviation Association (NBAA): NBAA is the leading US business aviation association, comparable to the ACA in serving aircraft operators, charter providers, brokers, FBOs and manufacturers. NBAA is a founding member of the Air Charter Safety Alliance alongside the ACA.
- International Business Aviation Council (IBAC): IBAC is the global trade body for business aviation, operating internationally across more than 50 countries. IBAC is a broader global umbrella comparable to the ACA's international remit; both organizations engage with ICAO, EASA and FAA on operator and charter policy matters.
Regional players
- Latin American Business Aviation Association (LABAC): LABAC is the regional business aviation association for Latin America, a geographic peer to the ACA. Flapper (Brazil) provides a testimonial for the ACA, suggesting ACA is actively building membership in markets where LABAC is also active.
- MEBAA (Middle East Business Aviation Association): MEBAA is the regional industry association for business aviation across the Middle East, comparable to the ACA as a regional membership body serving charter operators, brokers and FBOs. MEBAA is a member of the Air Charter Safety Alliance alongside the ACA.
- Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA): AsBAA is the regional trade association for business aviation in Asia, a geographic peer covering APAC charter operators and brokers. The ACA has been extending its APAC footprint with new International Board representation (Shaun Quigley/Volantair in May 2024) where AsBAA is the incumbent regional body.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Air Charter Association social profiles
Digital presenceThe Air Charter Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Air Charter Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Air Charter Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Air Charter Association 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 The Air Charter Association
What does The Air Charter Association do?
The Air Charter Association is a non-profit global trade association that provides membership accreditation, professional training qualifications, and industry networking events to air charter companies worldwide. It accredits brokers, operators, FBOs, airports, manufacturers, and supporting service providers through a due diligence process, awarding them a Member Seal of Accreditation. The association delivers three training programmes (Broker Qualification, Air Charter Qualification, and Air Charter Essentials Certificate) and organises major events including the Air Charter Expo (ACE), Regional Forums, and the Air Charter Excellence Awards.
Is The Air Charter Association a public or private company?
The Air Charter Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Air Charter Association founded?
The Air Charter Association was founded in 1949. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Air Charter Association based?
The Air Charter Association is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Air Charter Association make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Corporate Membership Fees are the primary driver. The others are training Course Fees.
Who are The Air Charter Association's main competitors?
Others on record are ARGUS International and Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). Direct peers are European Business Aviation Association (EBAA), British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA), National Air Transportation Association (NATA), National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and International Business Aviation Council (IBAC). Regional players are Latin American Business Aviation Association (LABAC), MEBAA (Middle East Business Aviation Association) and Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA).
Does The Air Charter Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Air Charter Association.
What industry is The Air Charter Association in?
The Air Charter Association's product category is Aviation Trade Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAKALAK, Charter Flight Brokers & Air Charter Ticketing Agents, with a secondary code of THABADAB, Ad Hoc Passenger Charter Operators. Its NAICS code is 481211 and its SIC code is 4522.