Overview
Air Partner is a global aviation services company offering end-to-end charter and specialized aviation solutions across private jets, group airliners, and freight, complemented by safety and security consulting for governments, corporates, and individuals. Founded in 1961 and headquartered near London Gatwick, the firm combines decades of operational expertise with 24/7 worldwide coverage to deliver bespoke missions—from VIP movements and incentive travel to time-critical cargo and emergency response. As part of Wheels Up since 2022, Air Partner operates with expanded resources while retaining its broker-operator neutrality and client-first service ethos.
Core charter services
Air Partner’s core charter portfolio spans three pillars. Private Jets covers on-demand charters and a JetCard membership offering fixed-rate, guaranteed access across multiple cabin classes with predictable terms. Group Charter specializes in moving 20 to several hundred passengers via regional jets to wide-bodies, with tailored services such as branded check-in, custom seating, and synchronized handling for sports teams, MICE programs, film tours, and government delegations. Freight Charter orchestrates everything from onboard courier and narrowbody freighters to outsized cargo aircraft, addressing AOG components, humanitarian aid, industrial projects, and temperature-controlled or hazardous shipments.
Specialist capabilities
Beyond standard charters, Air Partner supports complex aviation programs and contingencies. Services include evacuation planning and crisis response, tour operations and series programs, aircraft leasing/ACMI, flight operations support, and aircraft sales and remarketing via dedicated teams. This depth allows the company to design multi-leg, multi-aircraft solutions that align schedules, permits, slots, and ground logistics—critical for live events, seasonal capacity programs, and rapid-response scenarios where timing and compliance are paramount.
Safety, security, and advisory
A distinguishing element is the integrated Safety & Security division, which provides aviation safety consulting, audits, fatigue risk management, training, and managed services for operators, airports, and enterprises. Security offerings can encompass risk assessments, regulatory compliance, and specialized programs for critical infrastructure and transportation hubs. The advisory footprint elevates Air Partner from a transactional broker to a strategic aviation partner capable of uplifting standards and resilience across clients’ operations.
JetCard and membership value
For frequent travelers, JetCard provides rate certainty and guaranteed aircraft access within defined call-out windows, reducing exposure to dynamic market swings while preserving flexibility across cabin categories. Members benefit from transparent billing, peak-day policies, and enhanced recovery commitments, making it a practical middle ground between ad-hoc charter and fractional ownership. Corporates often leverage JetCard to standardize private travel policies, streamline approvals, and forecast travel budgets with fewer surprises.
Use cases by sector
- Corporate and government: Executive shuttles, board meetings, roadshows, trade delegations, and emergency deployments where confidentiality, punctuality, and backup coverage are essential.
- Sports and entertainment: Team travel, fan charters, artist tours, and equipment logistics coordinated as a unified program with brandable touchpoints and rigorous time controls.
- Industrial and logistics: Time-critical freight for automotive, aerospace, energy, and pharma, including AOG and temp‑controlled solutions that minimize downtime and spoilage risk.
- Humanitarian and emergency: Evacuations, disaster relief corridors, and sustained air-bridge operations that require rapid stand-up, complex permitting, and resilient scheduling.
- Premium leisure and lifestyle: Family itineraries, event-weekend movements, and multi-stop journeys using secondary airports, private terminals, and high-touch concierge support.
End-to-end trip orchestration
Air Partner’s teams coordinate FBO and slot arrangements, permits, crew duty planning, ground handling, catering, and security requirements, providing a single accountable partner from brief to touchdown. For passenger programs, services can include bespoke check-in, gate branding, seat maps, and onboard experiences that match client identity. For freight, documentation, customs coordination, and special equipment (ULDs, cranes) are integrated, while contingency plans are pre-baked to preserve timelines when weather or ATC disruptions arise.
Why organizations choose Air Partner
- Breadth and neutrality: Access to a global aircraft marketplace across sizes and mission profiles, allowing the best-fit solution without the constraints of an owned fleet.
- Program design: Ability to build repeatable shuttles, series charters, and scalable event logistics that perform over weeks or months, not just single flights.
- Safety and assurance: In-house safety and security expertise layered onto charter execution, aligning with corporate governance and duty-of-care standards.
- Predictability: Membership options, standardized quoting, and transparent financials that support procurement, compliance, and accurate budgeting.
Global footprint and responsiveness
With a network of offices and 24/7 operations, Air Partner can source aircraft and align permits across regions quickly, a decisive advantage for time-sensitive missions. The worldwide footprint supports price discovery and backup planning, while sector-focused account managers bring domain expertise—sports seasonality, pharma cold-chain, film/tour routing, or government protocols—so programs are designed around real-world constraints rather than idealized schedules.
Sustainability and practical measures
Recognizing evolving ESG priorities, Air Partner facilitates practical steps such as trip right‑sizing, efficient routing, and access to sustainable aviation fuel where available, alongside offset options that align with corporate reporting. For many missions, using appropriately sized aircraft and optimizing stage lengths yields meaningful efficiency gains without compromising schedule integrity.
The bottom line
Air Partner blends charter execution with safety advisory and program architecture, enabling clients to move people and goods with precision, transparency, and resilience. Whether arranging a single executive hop, a multi-city incentive series, or a time-critical cargo bridge, the company’s combination of global reach, specialist teams, and membership options makes it a versatile partner for complex aviation needs.
For more information, please visit Air Partner