Air travel has become a normal part of modern life, with millions of people flying on commercial airlines every day.

However, there is another form of air travel that remains largely associated with presidents, celebrities, business executives and billionaires: chartered flights.

Whenever a head of state arrives in another country aboard a private jet, or a famous musician posts photos inside a luxurious aircraft, many people wonder what exactly a chartered plane is and why some of the world’s most influential individuals prefer to use one.

The answer lies in a combination of convenience, privacy, flexibility and security.

What is a chartered plane?

A chartered plane is an aircraft that is rented for private use rather than operating as part of a scheduled airline service.

Unlike commercial flights, which sell individual tickets to the public, a chartered aircraft is booked by a person, company, organisation, or government for a specific journey.

The customer essentially hires the entire aircraft for the duration of the trip.

Depending on the need, chartered flights can range from small private jets carrying a handful of passengers to large executive aircraft capable of transporting government officials, business delegations and support staff.

How chartered flights work

When people fly on commercial airlines, they must follow the airline’s schedule, arrive hours before departure and share the aircraft with dozens or even hundreds of passengers.

A chartered flight works differently.

The client chooses the destination, departure time and, in many cases, the airport. The aircraft is then prepared specifically for that journey.

This flexibility is one of the biggest reasons chartered aviation remains popular among high-profile travellers.