AirStar Charter

What AirStar Charter does

AirStar Charter is a privately held private aviation charter broker headquartered in Swainsboro, Georgia, operating since 1989 and structured across multiple entities — AirStar, Inc. as the operating parent, AirStar Elite LLC as the premium brand, AirStar Charter Inc. as the FAR 135 certified flight operator, and AirStar Flight Support for maintenance and FBO services. The company arranges on-demand private charter flights using its own FAR 135 authority and third-party FAR 135/121 certified carriers; it does not hold itself out as a direct air carrier. Its technology stack centers on a JetInsight-powered quoting and fleet management platform, real-time flight tracking, and SEO-optimized state-specific landing pages spanning eight Southeast US states, with broader reach across the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

AirStar serves three primary customer segments: business and corporate travelers seeking flexible scheduling and confidential travel environments, high-net-worth individuals and luxury travelers (including professional athletes) targeted through the Elite Card membership program, and aircraft owners using the Corporate Aircraft Management service to place their aircraft on AirStar's FAR 135 certificate and offset ownership costs. Revenue is generated through per-transaction charter fees, Elite Card deposits that provide upfront cash flow and recurring flight credit (e.g., $100K deposit converts to $105K in flight credit with fixed hourly rates and no blackout days), aircraft management fees, FBO terminal fees at KSBO, and 24/7 maintenance revenue from the Athens, Georgia (KAHN) facility.

The company's go-to-market is primarily consultative direct sales via dedicated 24/7 phone lines and online quote forms, supplemented by content marketing, state-level SEO, and an NFL athlete brand ambassadorship (Brock Bowers). AirStar holds WYVERN Wingman and ARGUS safety certifications, maintains an FAA Part 135 certificate through its operating subsidiary, and emphasizes guaranteed availability and recovery 365 days a year. Following the April 2025 launch of the AirStar Elite brand, the company is positioning its premium charter and maintenance services under a unified luxury identity while continuing to operate as a small, regionally rooted broker with 11-50 employees.

Name

AirStar Charter

Legal name

AirStar, Inc.

Website

https://airstarcharter.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AirStar Charter is a privately held private aviation charter broker, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Swainsboro, Georgia, arranging on-demand charter flights via FAR 135/121 carriers for corporate, high-net-worth, and athlete clients across the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Private Air Charter Services

NAICS

Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (48121), Air Transportation (481)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Airports, Flying Fields & Airport Terminal Services (4581), Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359)

akta.pro primary industry

Business Jet Charter (On-Demand) (THABAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Charter Brokerage & Charter Management (Passenger) (THABADAL), Aircraft Management & Part 135/135-equivalent Operators (THABAFAD), Private Aviation Terminals & FBO Services (THABAFAH), Private Jet Charter (Midsize/Super-Midsize/Heavy Jet) (TLAFABAB)

Keywords

• Private air charter
• Aircraft management services
• FBO operations
• Aircraft maintenance services
• Executive aviation

Headquarters

HQ city

Swainsboro

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. On-Demand Private Charter: AirStar arranges private charter flights on behalf of clients using their own fleet (operated under FAR 135) and third-party certified carriers. Clients pay per flight based on aircraft type, distance, and special requests. Revenue is generated per transaction as a service fee for arranging the flight. This is the primary revenue stream, available 24/7, 365 days a year.
2. Elite Card Membership Program: The Elite Card is a membership program offering exclusive benefits including 5% deposit credit, fixed hourly rates, no blackout days, and global aircraft access. Members deposit funds in advance (e.g., $100K gets $105K in flight credit), providing upfront cash flow and long-term customer lock-in.
3. Corporate Aircraft Management: Aircraft owners can place their aircraft on AirStar's FAA 135 Charter Certificate, turning the aircraft into a revenue-generating asset. AirStar earns management fees or a share of charter revenue generated while the aircraft is not in use by the owner.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AirStar Charter is a private aircraft charter broker that arranges on-demand private charter flights through AirStar Charter Inc. and other FAR 135/FAR 121 certified carriers across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. In addition to core charter brokerage, the company offers the Elite Card membership program (with deposit credits and fixed rates), corporate aircraft management under its FAA 135 Charter Certificate, 24/7 aircraft maintenance and mobile service from its Athens, Georgia facility, and FBO services at KSBO. The company is not a direct air carrier but operates as a broker arranging flights for clients on a custom-quote basis.

Product overview

AirStar Charter operates as a private aircraft charter broker offering on-demand private charter services worldwide. The product portfolio centers on the On-Demand Private Charter core service, complemented by the Elite Card membership program for frequent travelers. Additional offerings include Corporate Aircraft Management (FAA 135 Charter Certificate program), 24/7 Aircraft Maintenance services, AirStar Flight Support FBO facilities, and Real-Time Flight Tracking. The company recently rebranded its premium tier as AirStar Elite. AirStar Charter is not a direct air carrier but arranges flights through AirStar Charter Inc. and other FAR 135 or FAR 121 certified carriers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• On-Demand Private Charter On-demand private aircraft charter brokerage arranging flights on behalf of clients worldwide, providing flexible scheduling, customized aircraft selection from turboprops to heavy jets, and access to more domestic and international airports than commercial airlines. Flights are operated by AirStar Charter Inc. and other FAR 135/FAR 121 certified carriers.
• Elite Card Membership Membership program for frequent flyers offering a 5% deposit credit on every funding (e.g., deposit $100K, fly with $105K), fixed hourly rates with no blackout or peak surcharge days, global access to any aircraft, priority scheduling, and concierge-level service. The Elite Card never expires.
• Corporate Aircraft Management Program allowing aircraft owners to place their private aircraft on AirStar's FAA 135 Charter Certificate, generating charter revenue when the aircraft is not in personal use and helping offset ownership costs.
• 24/7 Aircraft Maintenance & Mobile Service Round-the-clock professional aircraft maintenance and mobile services for turboprop, piston, and jet aircraft engines, including inspections and emergency repairs, operated from AirStar's facility at KAHN in Athens, Georgia.
• AirStar Flight Support / FBO Fixed Base Operator services at KSBO providing private and secure terminal facilities with faster, more efficient security check-ins for charter passengers, bypassing the crowds and delays of commercial terminals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5% deposit credit for Elite Card members — deposit $100K, fly with $105K
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Corporate Angel NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAirStar Charter proudly supports the Corporate Angel Network, a charitable initiative that provides free flights to cancer patients by utilizing empty seats on private aircraft charters. This partnership allows AirStar to contribute to social causes while demonstrating the flexibility and reach of their charter network. It is a CSR initiative rather than a commercial business partnership.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Surf Air Mobility: Surf Air offers a subscription-based private aviation membership for unlimited flights on scheduled routes, representing an emerging tech-enabled model that competes for the same high-frequency business traveler as AirStar's Elite Card program.

Direct peers

• Air Charter Service: Air Charter Service is a global charter broker with offices across multiple continents arranging passenger and cargo flights. It is a direct competitor in the charter brokerage segment for both corporate and ad hoc private jet bookings.
• JetSuite (JSX): JSX operates a public-charter semi-private jet model flying scheduled point-to-point routes on FAR 135 carriers, with pricing and booking mechanics similar to AirStar's premium on-demand positioning. Both target time-sensitive business and leisure travelers seeking commercial-alternative service.
• flyExclusive: flyExclusive operates a fractional jet ownership program alongside on-demand charter, combining owned fleet operations with charter sales. It is the most direct mid-market comparable to AirStar's hybrid broker / operator mix in the private jet space.
• PrivateFly: PrivateFly is a global on-demand private jet charter broker with transparent online quoting and 24/7 booking — a near-identical model to AirStar's charter broker operations, serving corporate and leisure clients with no owned fleet.
• VistaJet: VistaJet provides global private jet membership and on-demand charter with a fleet of business jets and a fixed hourly rate program structurally similar to AirStar's Elite Card. Both compete for the same high-net-worth and corporate travel segment with non-asset-light fleet operations.
• Paramount Business Jets: Paramount Business Jets is an established online charter broker arranging on-demand jet flights worldwide with real-time quoting — directly comparable to AirStar's JetInsight-powered broker offering for retail and corporate charter clients.
• Wheels Up: Wheels Up is a membership-based private aviation company offering on-demand charter and managed services through partnerships with FAR 135 operators. Its business model, customer base, and mix of membership + charter revenue closely mirrors AirStar's Elite Card / on-demand charter positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Jet Aviation: Jet Aviation operates a global network of FBOs, MRO facilities, and aircraft management services. Its FBO + maintenance + management offering directly parallels AirStar's KSBO FBO, KAHN maintenance, and Corporate Aircraft Management verticals.
• NetJets (Berkshire Hathaway): NetJets is the largest fractional jet ownership and charter provider in the world, operating thousands of aircraft under FAR 135. It overlaps with AirStar on on-demand private charter and corporate accounts, but operates at vastly larger scale with owned fleet capacity rather than a broker model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AirStar Charter