Air Charter Guide

What Air Charter Guide does

Air Charter Guide is an online directory and information platform serving the global air charter industry, operating as a division within Informa Markets, the aviation-focused trading division of Informa PLC (LSE: INF). Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Cambridge, United States, the company maintains a database of more than 1 million data points covering charter operators, brokers, aircraft, airports, FBOs, caterers, and ground transportation providers across 148 countries. Its portfolio includes three core products: the Air Charter Guide annual printed and digital buyers guide, the AC-U-KWIK PRO year-long digital subscription offering pre-flight planning data for 8,000+ airports (with iOS and Android mobile apps), and the Air Charter Journal monthly email newsletter. The platform is powered by Tuvoli technology and is distributed in coordination with the broader Aviation Week Network, which includes ACUKWIK.COM, AIRCRAFTBLUEBOOK.COM, and AIRPORTDATA.COM.

The company monetizes through a hybrid model combining print publication sales, advertising (quarter page ads starting at $1,165 on multi-year contracts), digital subscription revenue from AC-U-KWIK PRO, and newsletter sponsorship. Charter buyers access the platform free of charge for searching operators, aircraft, airports, empty legs, and trip itineraries via the Trip Builder tool, while operators and brokers pay to advertise and gain visibility at the point of purchase decision. Customer segments split between retail charter buyers (executives, travel planners, corporate travel agents) and wholesale buyers (corporate flight departments, charter brokers, and other operators), with the advertiser base consisting of operators, FBOs, executive airports, handlers, caterers, and ground transport providers.

The platform attracts approximately 32,000 unique monthly visitors and 222,000 monthly page views, with content updated continuously and an annual print edition refreshed yearly. Strategic assets include 35+ years of accumulated industry data, the 'bible of air charter' brand recognition (per Town and Country magazine), and institutional distribution through the Aviation Week Network. The business is operated with 1-10 employees and does not publicly disclose standalone revenue, reflecting its position as a niche product line within Informa's broader aviation publishing portfolio rather than a standalone growth company.

Name

Air Charter Guide

Legal name

Informa PLC

Website

https://aircharterguide.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Air Charter Guide is an Informa Markets-owned online directory and annual publication serving the global air charter industry, providing verified operator, aircraft, and airport data across 148 countries to charter buyers, brokers, and operators.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Charter Directory and Marketplace

NAICS

Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Brokerage & Charter Management (Passenger) (THABADAL)

Keywords

• Aircraft charter directory
• Aviation marketplace platform
• Charter operator listings
• Private aviation reference
• Empty leg flights

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Print Publication Sales: Annual Air Charter Guide publication sold to charter buyers and industry professionals
2. Digital Subscription (AC-U-KWIK PRO): Year-long subscription providing access to FBO and airport pre-flight planning information for 8,000+ airports
3. Advertising: Display advertising in print directory and online platform. Quarter page ads from $1,165. Website promotion with contact info and web-links included with ad commitment.
4. Air Charter Journal Newsletter: Monthly email newsletter providing industry news with advertising and subscription revenue potential

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Air Charter Guide operates a global directory and information platform for the on-demand air charter industry, providing searchable databases of charter operators, brokers, aircraft, airports, FBOs, caterers, and ground transportation providers across 148 countries. Its core pay-for offerings include the annual printed Air Charter Guide buyers' guide, the AC-U-KWIK PRO digital pre-flight planning subscription, and the Air Charter Journal monthly newsletter, complemented by a free, advertising-supported web directory platform with Trip Builder and Empty Legs search tools.

Product overview

Air Charter Guide is a comprehensive B2B aviation marketplace and information platform that serves as the primary resource for the air charter industry. The portfolio consists of three core products: the Air Charter Guide (annual buyers guide covering 148 countries with operator/broker contact and fleet data), AC-U-KWIK PRO (a digital subscription for pre-flight planning at 8,000+ airports with a mobile app), and the Air Charter Journal (monthly newsletter). These are supplemented by free online directories for searching operators, airports, aircraft, brokers, FBOs, catering services, and ground transportation. The platform is part of the Aviation Week Network and is powered by Tuvoli technology. Users can also utilize the Trip Builder tool for itinerary planning and access empty leg flight listings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Air Charter Guide (Annual Buyers Guide) The authoritative annual printed and digital buyers guide to the air charter industry, providing contact and fleet details for commercially licensed aircraft operators in 148 countries worldwide. Contains over one million data points including updated operator listings, newly certified operators, new aircraft indexed by region, broker listings, and ambulance/cargo operators. Sold to charter buyers and industry professionals.
• AC-U-KWIK PRO Digital Subscription A year-long digital subscription providing pre-flight planning information for more than 8,000 international and domestic airports and FBOs worldwide. Includes clearances, passport/visa/health tool, North American and international airport frequencies, PCN information, airport general remarks, phone/fax for international restrictions, FBO/handler details, airport services, catering, maintenance, charter info, and hotel information. Available as a mobile app on iOS and Android devices.
• Air Charter Journal Newsletter A monthly email newsletter providing aviation and charter professionals with industry news, operator and broker spotlights, news stories, and aviation/VIP events. Distributed free to subscribers via email.
• Display Advertising (Print and Digital) Display advertising placements in the printed Air Charter Guide directory and on the aircharterguide.com web platform, including quarter-page print ads and online promotion with company contact information and web-links. Sold on a multi-year contract basis reaching 32,000+ monthly unique visitors and the global charter buyer audience.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• TuvolicoreTechnology or IntegrationTuvoli provides the technology platform powering Air Charter Guide's web directory, search functionality, and trip building tools. Copyright notice indicates 'Powered by Tuvoli' on all pages.
• Aviation Week NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAir Charter Guide is part of the Aviation Week Network, which includes ACUKWIK.COM, AIRCRAFTBLUEBOOK.COM, and AIRPORTDATA.COM. Owned by Informa Markets, a trading division of Informa PLC.
• Informa MarketscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorParent company operating as a trading division of Informa PLC. Owns Aviation Week Network and associated aviation publications and databases.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• JETNET: JETNET provides aviation market intelligence and ownership/fleet data on turbine aircraft globally — directly comparable to ACG's operator and fleet database and competes for the same operator/buyer intelligence spend.
• PrivateFly: PrivateFly is an on-demand private jet booking platform serving charter buyers with operator comparison, instant quotes and empty leg listings — competing directly with ACG's charter buyer workflow.
• Paramount Business Jets: Paramount Business Jets is a charter broker providing online quotes, empty leg listings and operator sourcing — directly comparable to ACG's Trip Builder and Empty Legs tools.
• Avinode: Avinode operates a marketplace platform connecting charter operators and brokers for aircraft sourcing, quoting and trip management — directly comparable to ACG's directory and Trip Builder functionality, with deeper transactional tooling.
• Victor (Wheels Up): Victor is a digital charter booking marketplace offering transparent on-demand jet pricing, operator comparison and empty leg search — competing with ACG for the same charter buyer audience and advertising dollars.
• Stratos Jets: Stratos Jets is a private jet charter broker with its own online sourcing tools and operator network — directly comparable to ACG's charter buyer use case and competes for advertising revenue from operators.

Broad incumbents

• FlightAware: FlightAware provides aviation tracking and data services to operators, FBOs and business aviation users — a broader incumbent with overlapping pre-flight data utility to AC-U-KWIK PRO.

Others

• NBAA (National Business Aviation Association): NBAA is the principal business aviation trade association maintaining member directories and industry intelligence — comparable as an industry reference/membership body serving the same charter operator/buyer audience that ACG reaches.
• Million Air: Million Air operates a global FBO network and is listed in ACG's FBO/Handler directory — comparable as an ecosystem participant in the same business aviation chain ACG catalogs and monetizes via advertising.

Emerging players

• Universal Weather and Aviation: Universal Weather provides flight planning, weather, FBO and trip support services to business aviation operators — adjacent to AC-U-KWIK PRO's pre-flight planning functionality and competes for operator subscriptions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aircharterguide
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/air-charter-guide
• Xx.com/aircharterguide

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Air Charter Guide