While chartered flights are likely to push up the price of a package, the advantages include optimising clients’ itineraries and offering an exclusive and customised experience. Tessa Reed looks at some of the benefits.

1.Exclusivity

Nik Lloyd-Roberts, Commercial Manager at Federal Airlines, says the exclusivity offered by a charter flight makes it an attractive option for clients who want sole use of an aircraft, pointing out that this could be for reasons of confidentiality. Likewise, Daniela Tobler, Country Manager – South Africa at aircraft charter operator, Chapman Freeborn, says charter flights are suitable for high-profile dignitaries. According to Lloyd-Roberts, the personal touch and romance of charter a flight also set it apart from scheduled services.

Katherine Whelan, Airlink Tour Product Manager for Contracting – Groups – Charters, agrees that one of the most popular reasons for charter flights is the exclusivity associated with them. “Clients often want a private and customised experience that they may not be able to obtain on a scheduled departure.” Michael Adams, Business Development Manager at Solenta Aviation, says charters offer a very personalised service. “Flights are designed and scheduled around the client’s needs and not the other way around.”

2.Tailor-made

Adams says charter flights offer both clients and tour operators a lot more flexibility, especially with tailor-made tours. “Charters are also ideal for group movements, such as large or even smaller groups or families travelling together.” He adds that charters are suitable for peak holiday season when scheduled flights are limited, last-minute group travelling, sports teams travelling at their leisure as well as incentive and corporate groups. Tobler also points out that incentive groups prefer to travel together. She adds that charters are also suitable for special events and product launches; bands and orchestras; and government and diplomatic flights.

Whelan and Lloyd-Roberts point out that charter flights are also more flexible with baggage limitations, although some aircraft require soft canvas bags. Whelan adds that customised ‘welcome on board’ announcements are commonplace as well as pre-arranged and specific catering requests. Other benefits, according to Tobler, include dedicated check-in arrangements, increased baggage allowances as well as branding options ranging from headrest covers through to full aircraft livery.

3.Time

Both Lloyd-Roberts and Whelan point out that charter flights allow guests to maximise on their time, while Michéll Fourie, Commercial Services South Africa: Manager Sales & Marketing at Air Namibia, also points out that the flexibility of charter flight times makes this an attractive option.

“Scheduled departures don’t always meet the timing requirements of the client and they therefore need to make alternative arrangements,” says Whelan. She points out that charters enable guests to reach to their final destination without the inconvenience of multiple sectors, time spent in airports and the picking up and dropping off of baggage. “Charter flights are a quicker, more seamless option, especially when time sensitivity is an issue or exclusivity a requirement.”

John Taylor, CEO of Procharter – a division of Proflight Zambia, points out that charter flights allow clients to maximise their stay at various camps or business destinations.

4.Access

Charter flights can be used to access destinations that are not serviced by scheduled flights. “In the Southern African market, with charter we have many options of privately owned and commercial landing strips. This enables us to find a solution best suited to the client’s needs,” says Tobler.

Taylor points out that many destinations, especially those that serve the tourist industry, have to be accessed either by road or charter flights. “Due to the distances involved, road travel is generally out of the question,” he says. He also points out that for regional travel to Tanzania, Botswana, Malawi and Mozambique, charter flights are generally a good option, as most of these countries do not have frequent scheduled flights with Zambia. Likewise Fourie says there are many areas in Namibia that clients can only access by road or small charter aircraft.

5.Price

“Large group travel can often be accommodated better and more cheaply by a charter company,” says Taylor. Likewise, Lloyd-Roberts points out that while nine times out of 10, a charter flight will be more expensive, chartering a large aircraft for groups in excess of 50 passengers can work out cheaper that booking the seats on a scheduled service. Moreover, he says, finding the capacity for a large group on a scheduled service will be challenging. “With us, large groups can be booked with ease.”

Whelan offers the following advice to keep charter costs down: “Find an operator with aircraft based in either the departure or arrival city and match the type of aircraft as closely as possible to the number of passengers required.”