Step 1: Define your mission before you charter an aircraft
Chartering an aircraft takes four steps: define your mission, source the right aircraft and operator, confirm the quote and services, then prepare and follow the flight through to departure. As an air charter broker, Artheau Aviation coordinates each of these steps for private jet, group, sports and air cargo flights.
Every charter starts with your requirements. Before requesting a quote, define the route and dates, your preferred departure times, any flexibility and any multi-leg itinerary. Then confirm the number of passengers or the cargo details, because aircraft selection depends on capacity and weight.
Add operational constraints early. Remote airports, baggage volume, pets, passengers with reduced mobility or special handling can change the type of aircraft required. If the mission is urgent, say so: availability is often the main driver for last-minute charters.
This assessment varies with the type of charter. At Artheau Aviation, our charter activities are organised around four specialist departments, and a private jet for a few passengers is not prepared in the same way as a flight for 150 employees, a professional sports team or an urgent cargo shipment.
- In Private Jet Charter, we assess your routing, schedule, passenger numbers, baggage and onboard requirements.
- For Group Charter Flights, we consider the required capacity alongside your group's programme, baggage, services and the constraints of the airports involved.
- For Sports Team Charter Flights, we also take into account the competition schedule, post-match departures, sports equipment and the needs of your delegation.
- For Air Cargo Charter, we focus on the nature of your shipment, its weight, volume, dimensions, packaging and loading requirements.
This short qualification phase gives us a clear set of requirements before approaching operators. It avoids irrelevant options and speeds up decision-making with accurate proposals.
Step 2: Market search and aircraft selection
Once the mission is defined, our charter brokers search the market for available aircraft operated by air operators holding the required licences and certifications. This is where chartering an aircraft becomes technical: a good proposal is not only about price.
We compare aircraft capacity, range, cabin configuration, availability and compatibility with the airports involved, as well as any restriction that could affect the operation. On some short sectors, a turboprop may offer a shorter overall journey than a jet when it can use a smaller airport closer to the final destination.
Aircraft location also matters. The right aircraft may not be positioned near your departure airport when your request arrives, so we approach several operators and compare different aircraft to present solutions that match your requirements.
Our assessment does not stop with the aircraft. We also review the operator and the conditions under which your flight will be performed, including the certifications and licences required for the operation. Proposals are then compared on aircraft, flight programme, services, operational conditions and commercial terms.
Our role as an air charter broker also includes suggesting an alternative when it serves your mission better: a different aircraft category, a slightly adjusted schedule or another airport.
- For a private jet flight, we compare aircraft categories and their positioning at the time of your flight.
- For group travel, we assess the aircraft capacity needed to carry all your passengers on the required programme.
- For a sports team, we include competition schedules, baggage and equipment.
- For air cargo, sufficient theoretical payload does not mean your shipment can actually be loaded: dimensions, individual piece weights and the aircraft's loading characteristics must also be checked.
The goal is to turn your requirements into concrete, comparable solutions, and to recommend the aircraft that fits the mission rather than simply the cheapest one.
Step 3: Quotation, confirmation and coordinated services
A charter quotation reflects the operational requirements of the mission. The main cost drivers include the aircraft category, flight time, airport and handling fees, crew requirements, positioning legs and any overnight requirements. If the aircraft must reposition before picking you up, this additional flight is reflected in the quotation. Our guide to charter flight prices explains each of these items in detail.
Once you confirm an option, the flight moves into operational planning. Slots, permits, ground handling, passenger documentation and the final schedule are secured with the operator, and we coordinate the services your mission requires.
- Private jet: private terminals or FBOs, handling, catering, chauffeurs, baggage, pets and specific onboard requests.
- Group charter: passenger lists, baggage, check-in, seating where available, catering, airport assistance, handling and ground transfers.
- Sports team: the organisation follows your team's programme, including post-match departures, sports equipment, baggage volumes, catering and transfers.
- Air cargo: coordination between the operator, freight forwarder, ground handler and the required loading equipment, based on your shipment's characteristics.
You keep one main point of contact for your charter, with clear timelines, while we coordinate every party involved. This matters most for time-sensitive trips, high-profile passengers and critical cargo.
.webp)
Step 4: Flight preparation and follow-up through to departure
Once your charter is confirmed, we consolidate the required information with the operator and service providers: programme, passengers, baggage, services, specific requests or cargo characteristics. Our teams use dedicated charter management and flight preparation tools to centralise the key information required for each mission. These tools support our teams; they do not replace the human analysis and coordination each operation requires.
As departure approaches, we review the operational information for your flight. On departure day, this can include checking the aircraft's positioning, reviewing passenger lists, monitoring check-in opening and following boarding. We also follow aircraft movements and can consult METAR and TAF weather data to anticipate conditions that may affect your operation.
This follow-up matters most when something changes. A delay, a schedule adjustment, an airport constraint, a change to your programme or a technical unavailability calls for further coordination with the operator and service providers. Our role is then to centralise the information, assess the consequences for your mission and look for the available solutions. We cannot remove the uncertainties inherent in air transport, but we can follow your operation closely and coordinate the necessary actions.
Chartering an aircraft is simple when the process is structured. Define the mission, select the right aircraft and operator, validate the quote and services, then prepare and follow the flight. This structured approach helps anticipate constraints and reduce avoidable delays or surprises. Artheau Aviation supports you from the first request to departure, across private jet, group, sports and air cargo charters.
Request a tailored aircraft charter quote
Share your route, dates, passenger or cargo details, and key constraints. Artheau Aviation will propose the most relevant aircraft options and manage the full operational coordination for a smooth charter experience.
FAQ
In some cases, an aircraft can be chartered within a few hours, particularly for a private jet mission. Group, sports and cargo charters may require more lead time depending on aircraft availability, airports, permits and the operational requirements of the mission.
At minimum: route, dates, number of passengers or cargo details, and any constraints such as baggage volume, runway limits, passengers with reduced mobility or the nature of the shipment. The more precise the mission, the faster the aircraft selection and quotation.
Yes. Our work does not end when the aircraft is booked. We prepare the elements required for your flight, coordinate the parties involved and follow the operation through to departure, including passengers or cargo, baggage, catering, handling and the other services arranged.
You can contact operators directly, but an air charter broker provides market access, offer comparison and operational coordination. Artheau Aviation acts as a single point of contact and sources aircraft from air operators that meet the requirements of your mission.
