A charter flight is a flight that is not part of an airlines published schedule. Instead, it is an unscheduled flight that is rented in its entirety by an individual, group, or company. Charter flights are different from scheduled flights, which operate according to pre-published schedules for departures and arrivals from one destination to another.

Charter flights offer several advantages over scheduled flights, including:

• Flexibility: Because a charter flight is not part of a scheduled service, the flight will depart when the client wants it to. Clients can also choose which cities they fly to and from, making it more convenient when they need to travel to a city where a scheduled airline service may require multiple connections or layovers before reaching the destination.

• Privacy: Passengers on a charter flight depart from a private facility known as an FBO, unlike commercial flights where travelers are herded through a crowded airport and undergo an intrusive security screening.

• Customization: Passengers on charter flights can customize meals, use Wi-Fi, hook up their smartphones and gadgets, and even enjoy movies and television programs on big-screen TVs.

There are several types of charter flights, including:

• Charter operators: Certified by their associated government body such as the FAA for US carriers, charter operators have legal authority to advertise and conduct flights for hire.

• Air charter brokers: Charter brokers arrange flights on behalf of their clients, acting as "authorized agents".

• Jet card programs: Programs offered by both brokers and operators where a customer is offered a fixed hourly rate for a specific jet category and the broker or operator sources a jet from the available charter fleet.

Charter aircraft categories include seaplanes, turbo props, light jets, midsize jets, super midsize jets, heavy jets, and airliners.