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Group & Airline

Airline Sub-Charter and ACMI Wet Lease

Airline sub-charter and ACMI wet lease can add capacity when a scheduled aircraft is unavailable, a route needs temporary reinforcement or a network plan changes. Submit one request through IONA JETS so vetted Broker Partners may assess the requirement and, where appropriate, prepare proposals based on routes, dates, aircraft configuration, operational scope, approvals and availability.

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Defining the airline capacity requirement

Airline capacity requests should define the operational problem before a particular solution is assumed. A single replacement sector, a short series of flights, seasonal reinforcement and a longer wet lease can involve different aircraft, crew, commercial and regulatory requirements. Route structure, dates, passenger volume, baggage, cabin configuration, airport constraints and schedule tolerance should be supplied together. Broker Partners may compare possible sub-charter or ACMI arrangements, while the proposed operator and the airline's own teams confirm whether the aircraft and operating plan can support the program.

Nature of the requirement: State whether the need concerns one replacement flight, several rotations, seasonal reinforcement or a longer capacity program. The duration, frequency and urgency influence which operators, aircraft and contractual structures may be suitable and available.
Schedule and airports: Provide routes, operating dates, preferred timings, required frequencies, acceptable positioning and all airports involved. Slots, curfews, traffic rights, handling, fuel, maintenance support and crew logistics may affect what can be proposed.
Passengers and cabin: Specify expected passenger numbers, cabin classes, seating or accessibility requirements, baggage, catering and brand priorities. Published aircraft capacities are indicative; the proposed operator must confirm the actual configuration and payload for the program.

Comparing sub-charter, ACMI and wet-lease proposals

Sub-charter, wet lease and ACMI proposals can allocate responsibilities and costs differently, so the contract rather than the label should be reviewed. ACMI commonly refers to Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance supplied by the operating lessor, while fuel, airport, handling, catering and other items may be allocated separately. Minimum utilization, positioning, crew accommodation, taxes, payment, cancellation, substitution and disruption provisions can materially affect the arrangement. The selected Broker Partner may coordinate commercial discussions, but the airline and operator remain responsible for accepting the final contractual allocation.

Contract structure: Confirm whether the requirement is an ad hoc sub-charter, a flight series, a wet lease, ACMI or another agreed structure. The terminology alone does not determine the complete allocation of services, responsibilities or costs.
Cost allocation: Review aircraft, crew, maintenance, insurance, fuel, positioning, airport, handling, catering, accommodation, taxes and other charges. The accepted contract should identify which party supplies and pays for each item and under which conditions.
Changes and substitution: Aircraft substitution, schedule changes, minimum utilization, cancellation, operational disruption and early termination can materially affect the program. Review the applicable thresholds, notice requirements, remedies and approval process before the arrangement is finalized.

Integrating capacity into the scheduled operation

Introducing another operator into a scheduled program may require coordination across operations control, network planning, airport stations, ground handling, passenger service, security, commercial systems and communications throughout the program. Use of the airline's flight number, designator, brand elements, uniforms, catering or service procedures depends on the contractual structure, applicable approvals and the operator's capabilities. Broker Partners may coordinate confirmed information between the parties, while each airline, operator, airport and provider remains responsible for its own systems, decisions, services and passenger obligations.

Flight identity: Use of flight numbers, airline designators and commercial systems depends on the approved operating and marketing structure. Passenger information must accurately identify the operating carrier where required, and no particular coding arrangement is guaranteed.
Station readiness: Ground handling, fueling, catering, security, crew transport, cleaning, slots and station procedures require confirmation at each airport. Every airport and provider remains responsible for its availability, approvals, resources and service performance.
Brand and passenger experience: Livery, cabin presentation, uniforms, announcements, loyalty recognition and service routines may be requested but depend on lead time, aircraft configuration, crew preparation, operator agreement and applicable approvals. Brand continuity is not guaranteed.

Due diligence, approvals and operational responsibility

A commercial sub-charter or wet lease can require operator documentation, insurance evidence, aircraft and crew information, internal supplier assessment and approvals from one or more competent authorities. Requirements vary with the route, jurisdictions, traffic rights, contract structure and intended operation. IONA JETS provides the digital referral platform and verifies Broker Partners before they join the network. Broker Partners may coordinate documents and inquiries, but the airline completes its own due diligence and approvals, while the proposed operator retains operational control and responsibility for the aircraft, crew and flight.

Airline due diligence: The contracting airline should apply its own supplier, safety, security, insurance, legal and compliance procedures to the proposed operator and arrangement. Information coordinated by a Broker Partner does not replace the airline's independent review.
Required approvals: Wet-lease, traffic-right, slot, airport, security or other authorizations may be required depending on the operation. The responsible airlines and operator submit the necessary applications, and competent authorities decide whether approval is granted.
Operational control: The operator retains operational control and responsibility for aircraft, crew and maintenance; the pilot-in-command has final authority for payload, routing, weather, fuel, airports and safety. IONA JETS does not operate the flight.

Frequently asked questions about airline sub-charter and ACMI

Airline sub-charter and ACMI arrangements depend on the capacity requirement, contract structure, operator availability, regulatory approvals and operational integration. These answers explain the difference between common formats, the variables affecting deployment, possible use of flight numbers and brand elements, and the respective responsibilities of IONA JETS, Broker Partners, the contracting airline, the proposed operator and competent authorities.

What is the difference between airline sub-charter, ACMI and wet lease?

An airline sub-charter generally refers to capacity obtained from another operator for one flight, a series or another defined requirement. A wet lease commonly places an aircraft and operating crew under the lessor operator's operational control, while ACMI describes Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance and Insurance supplied within the agreed structure. The terms are sometimes used differently in commercial practice and regulation. The contract must therefore identify the operator, scope, cost allocation, operational responsibilities, approvals and passenger-facing arrangements for the specific program.

How quickly can replacement airline capacity be arranged?

No fixed deployment time can be promised. Timing depends on suitable aircraft and crew availability, positioning, airport slots, traffic rights, permits, security requirements, maintenance status, insurance, contracting and the airline's internal approval process. A Broker Partner may begin assessing potential options promptly after receiving complete information, but a proposed aircraft is not available for operation until the responsible operator, airline and relevant authorities have completed the necessary confirmations. Time-critical programs should also address cancellation and alternative-capacity provisions explicitly.

Can the aircraft operate under our flight number and brand?

It may be possible, but it is not automatic. Use of the contracting airline's flight number, designator, distribution channels, livery, uniforms, announcements or service standards depends on the agreement, applicable law, regulatory approvals, airport and systems capability, and the operating airline's aircraft and crew arrangements. Passenger information may also need to identify the actual operating carrier. The selected Broker Partner may coordinate confirmed requirements, while the airlines and responsible authorities determine what structure and presentation are permitted.

What due diligence and approvals may be required?

The required review varies by airline, route, jurisdiction and contract. It may include operator certificates and approvals, insurance, aircraft and crew information, maintenance and safety records, security arrangements, traffic rights, wet-lease authorization, airport permissions and internal supplier checks. Broker Partners may collect or transmit information received from operators, but they do not certify regulatory compliance or replace the airline's own assessment. The contracting airline and proposed operator must complete their respective reviews, and competent authorities decide whether required approvals are granted.

IONA JETS acts solely as a Swiss digital referral platform connecting clients with independent air charter brokers across private, commercial and cargo aviation. IONA JETS is not an air charter broker, air carrier, airline, aircraft operator, ground-handling provider, travel agency, customs broker, medical provider, security provider or provider of the flights and third-party services described on this page. Participating vetted Broker Partners may independently assess requests and prepare proposals. Broker participation and the receipt, number, timing, content and terms of proposals are not guaranteed. After a proposal is selected, operator sourcing, the checks the selected Broker Partner applies to the proposed operator, the applicable contract and payment arrangements, and the coordination of the confirmed mission and agreed third-party services all fall within that broker's own responsibility and procedures. IONA JETS neither performs nor supervises those checks. Each confirmed flight is performed exclusively by the responsible aircraft operator under its own applicable operating certificate, approvals, operational control, terms and insurance. IONA JETS reviews and verifies Broker Partners before they join the network but does not directly certify, approve, source, select or verify every aircraft operator or downstream provider. Each Broker Partner, operator, airport, authority and other provider remains responsible for its own services, decisions, authorizations, insurance, personnel, equipment, contractual obligations and regulatory compliance. The information on this page is general and does not guarantee receipt of a proposal or the availability of any aircraft, operator, route, schedule, departure time, airport, slot, permit, configuration, equipment, service, price, response time, cost saving, outcome or other feature. All options remain subject to Broker Partner participation, operator and provider availability, operational feasibility, passenger and payload acceptance, airport constraints, slots, permits, applicable regulations, weather where relevant and confirmation during the booking process. Transport-related obligations and liabilities remain with the contractual party or parties identified in the booking documentation. IONA JETS is not a party to the flight or third-party service contract unless expressly stated otherwise in writing. IONA JETS does not charge clients a platform fee for submitting a request, reviewing available proposals or selecting an option through the standard referral service. IONA JETS Business is a separate optional paid subscription. Flights and third-party services may carry separate prices, taxes, payment terms, change conditions and cancellation conditions. IONA JETS receives remuneration from a Broker Partner when a referred request results in a confirmed booking. Airline sub-charter, ACMI and wet-lease arrangements may require separate regulatory, operational, commercial and technical approvals. These labels do not create a universal allocation of responsibilities; the accepted contracts, applicable law and official approvals govern each arrangement. The requesting or marketing carrier remains responsible for its own schedules, passenger communications, sales, travel documents and applicable customer obligations. The responsible operator retains responsibility for the aircraft, crew, maintenance, operational control and performance of the flight. Airports, handlers, fuel suppliers, caterers, security providers and other third parties remain responsible for their own services. No traffic right, slot, permit, aircraft, capacity, cabin product, branding arrangement, replacement solution or continuity of service is guaranteed before written confirmation by the responsible parties. *Cashback is available only on eligible bookings and remains subject to the applicable Loyalty Program terms.