the air charter industry

to slow down its growth, having expanded its North American operations and recently reported strong results in France. Moving forward, the charter broker is keen to continue its mission of moving into new territories where there are potential markets, as well as being reactive to conditions in the industry.

Bigger economies often provide greater opportunities for charter brokers but ACS is careful with its planning, not entering a market where it doesn’t believe there is a chance of success.

“Even though we have expanded massively over the years, there is a nimbleness to ACS that allows us to move quickly as the market dictates – and that includes our other core divisions of private jets and commercial airliners,” MorganEvans highlighted.

“Initially we were UK-based so the UK was always the strongest office but as we opened offices around the globe we started to spread that share of the load,” he said. “Global spread was part of the strategy, not just to have the network, but to spread the risk of down markets in certain areas. The diversity, both regionally and divisionally, were the main reasons we were lucky enough to thrive during and since Covid.”

While looking to grow, ACS recognises there is a need to balance an expanding company, industry and cargo market with the need to become more sustainable. The charter broker has been a carbon neutral company since 2007 and has invested in Erik Lindbergh’s research into electric flight. However, that solution is still some way off being a reality for the industry.

“There are several steps, and several years, before we are even approaching an entirely sustainable space – carbon-offsetting, Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and then electric or hydropowered flight,” Morgan-Evans admitted. But, despite the challenges in achieving those visions, ACS is doing all that it can now, providing carbon off-setting and providing funding for research to make aircraft more fuel-efficient.