When traditional air freight shipping can’t meet a critical deadline or unique cargo requirement, many companies turn to air charter broker services.
An air charter broker acts as a specialist intermediary, securing entire aircraft for dedicated freight missions on behalf of shippers. This niche of air freight has grown from a last-resort solution into a strategic logistics tool. In fact, the global market for freight air charters topped $20 billion in 2021 and is projected to approach $30 billion by the mid-2020s. In the United States alone, more than 2,500 FAA-licensed air charter operators are available to carry cargo, and brokers connect customers with these carriers. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the U.S. air charter broker industry – what these brokers do, the advantages they offer, the industries that rely on them, how the sector is evolving, and how to choose a reliable partner. The goal is an informative yet accessible guide for shippers and logistics professionals looking to understand air charter broker services and how the industry operates.