The Air Charter Association

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.

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

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

• Air charter trade association
• Aviation industry accreditation
• Charter broker training
• Professional aviation qualification
• Aviation industry networking

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core 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

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CLIMBING. FAST. CampaigncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 April 2026Industry 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 or Co-development Partner · 4 February 2026Strategic 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 ExchangecoreOthersThe 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 SocietyminorOthersCorporate Partner - the Royal Aeronautical Society is a professional body for aviation professionals.
• Women in Aviation and Aerospace CharterminorOthersUK aerospace and aviation sectors initiative working towards gender equality in the industry.
• European Business Aviation Association (EBAA)coreOthersEU Industry Association partner. The ACA and EBAA jointly produced the Air Charter Contracting Guide for charter contracts.
• National Air Transportation Association (NATA)coreOthersUS Industry Association partner. Both ACA and NATA are founding members of the Air Charter Safety Alliance.
• British Business and General Aviation Association (BBGA)coreOthersUK Industry Association partner. BBGA collaborates with ACA on UK APD consultation responses.
• National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)coreOthersUS Industry Association partner and founding member of the Air Charter Safety Alliance.
• UK Civil Aviation AuthoritycoreOthersThe UK Regulator. ACA works closely with the CAA on illegal charter prevention and regulatory guidance.
• European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)coreOthersThe EU Regulator. ACA provides industry feedback to EASA on regulatory matters.
• US FAAcoreOthersUS Regulator. ACA collaborates with FAA on illegal charter awareness and guidance.
• Air Charter ExpocoreOthersThe main UK event for air charter. ACA partners with Business Air News and London Biggin Hill Airport to co-organise Air Charter Expo (ACE).
• 4AirminorOthersThe ACA Sustainability Partner & recommended programme. Provides sustainability and offsetting services to members.
• Air Charter Safety AlliancecoreOthersA 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

Others

• 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

• Xx.com/theaircharter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theaircharterassociation
• Facebookfacebook.com/theaircharterassociation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Air Charter Association