What is a Charter Flight

Chartered flights are private flights that are scheduled and designed to meet needs of organizations and passengers specifically. Usually commercial flights depart at scheduled intervals with pre-purchasing of the tickets while chartered flights are scheduled by request.

They are used for many purposes like flying many passengers, emergency transport or time sensitive cargo. Typical fees for the charter flights are higher than a traditional cargo or sometimes they can be negotiated. Charters can be booked via large airlines and also through private companies which specializes in these flights. The aircraft has a cabin crew and supplies like drinks and meals are requested as the charter contract. Various aircraft's are used, depending on passenger number and the cargo amount that will be transported.

Passenger Chareters

People who are wealthy and celebrities who want to avoid crowds at public airports choose these charter flights. Some charters are filled by schedule these flights as a part of the accommodation. Occasionally schools, organizations or businesses book charter flights for receiving better rates from the airlines. Organizations who fly personnel frequently find a charter flight cost-effective compared with other options like their own maintenance of an aircraft. Using charter flights is more convenient as they meet unexpected needs as ticketing and other conventional procedures can be skipped.

Cargo Charters

Time sensitive or unique cargo's can be sent by a charter as regular airlines may not handle or meet the delivery targets. For sensitive cargo's like perishable goods, medical devices, supplies and important documents can be delivered via charter flights fast. It is also helpful to access remote regions that are difficult to be reached. Aircraft's even deliver food, supplies and mail to the residents when requested.

Medical Charters

People who are ill can be transported via charter flights. For emergency's, when there is a need for a rapid transport to the treatment facility and as soon as possible can be done using a charter flight. Charter flights sometimes even act as air ambulances to fly unstable patients who need special attention. Paramedics and nurses on-board help in monitoring the patient and even provide with basic interventions and keep them stable before handing them off to a medical facility. Charter flights are also chartered to transport human organs for transplant cases. Hospitals who are ready for transplant co-ordinate with the surgeons who request organs with the transportation firms specializing in medical flights. These flights help in transporting the organs directly between hospitals, ensuring that the delicate organs reach their destination as soon as possible.

Advantages

Chartered flights have more flexibility in scheduling and they are always direct. For specialized medical situations or cargo, the planes have the appropriate equipments for transportation. For travelers who want to reach remote regions, chartered flight is a boon.

Disadvantages

Small margins of profits and relatively a smaller size of the charter airlines result in financial instability wherein the airlines sometimes can go bankrupt. Tour operators may choose to cancel the charter flight, mostly due to inadequate filling. Chartered flights are typically expensive if chartered for small groups.