Full Charter vs Part Charter: Benefits & Costs

Cargo aircraft chartering comes in two main models: full charter and part charter. Each offers specific advantages in terms of cost, flexibility, and control. This guide compares both approaches to help you choose the solution best suited to your air freight needs. The experts at Private Jets Connect break down the key points below.

Definitions

Full Charter

A full charter involves the exclusive rental of an entire cargo aircraft. The client has access to the aircraft’s full capacity and enjoys total control over the operation:

• Capacity: 100% of the aircraft is reserved for your freight
• Route: freely chosen (origin, destination, stops)
• Schedule: set according to your constraints
• Aircraft type: selected based on your freight

Part Charter

A part charter involves sharing the capacity of a charter cargo aircraft with other shippers. A cargo broker consolidates multiple shipments on a single flight:

• Capacity: you reserve only the space you need
• Route: set by the broker (most popular route)
• Schedule: fixed based on availability and consolidation
• Cost: split among the various shippers

Detailed Comparison

Advantages of Full Charter

Control and Exclusivity

The main advantage of a full charter is total control. You decide everything: when the aircraft departs, where it goes, how long it remains on the ground for loading. This exclusivity eliminates compromises from sharing with other shippers.

Rapid Deployment

In emergencies, a full charter can be operational within a few hours. No need to wait for consolidation of other shipments or confirmation from other shippers. It is the solution of choice for AOG situations and industrial emergencies.

Adaptation to Special Freight

A full charter allows transporting non-standard freight: oversized pieces, large quantities of dangerous goods, cargo requiring specific conditions (temperature, controlled atmosphere). The aircraft is configured exclusively for your freight type.

Security and Confidentiality

Your cargo is alone on board, eliminating risks of cross-contamination, damage from other cargo, or theft. This is an important criterion for high-value goods, sensitive products, and military equipment.

Flexible Destinations

A full charter can serve any airport with a suitable runway, including destinations not covered by scheduled services or consolidation routes.

Advantages of Part Charter

Significant Savings

The main advantage of a part charter is cost reduction. By sharing charter flight costs among multiple shippers, you can save 30 to 50% compared to a full charter, while still benefiting from a charter service (rather than commercial freight).

Accessibility

Part chartering makes charter accessible to companies with smaller volumes (1 to 15 tonnes) that don’t justify renting an entire aircraft but need charter flexibility.

Frequency

Brokers organize consolidation flights on high-demand routes (e.g., Europe-Asia, Europe-Africa), offering regular frequencies beyond what a single client could finance.

Reduced Carbon Footprint

By optimizing aircraft fill rate, part chartering reduces the carbon footprint per tonne transported compared to a partially filled charter.

When to Choose Full Charter

Full charter is the clear choice in these situations:

1. Critical urgency: AOG parts, production stoppage, deadline < 48 hours
2. High volume: your freight fills more than 60% of the aircraft capacity
3. Oversized freight: pieces that cannot coexist with other cargo
4. Dangerous goods: cohabitation restrictions with other freight types
5. Unusual destination: airport not covered by consolidation routes
6. Confidentiality: sensitive or high-value goods requiring exclusivity

When to Choose Part Charter

Part charter is optimal for:

1. Moderate volume: 1 to 15 tonnes of standard freight
2. Limited budget: need charter quality without the full flight price
3. Well-served route: standard routes with regular consolidations
4. Flexible deadline: ability to wait 2-5 days for consolidation
5. Standard freight: conventional goods with no special requirements

The Broker’s Role in Part Chartering

The cargo broker plays a central role in organizing part charters:

• Consolidation: grouping shipments from multiple clients to fill an aircraft
• Optimization: selecting the aircraft offering the best capacity/cost ratio
• Coordination: managing loading timelines for each shipper
• Billing: transparently splitting costs among clients
• Compliance: verifying compatibility of different freight types

Practical Choice Examples

Scenario 1: 80 tonnes of equipment for a construction site in Africa

Recommended: full charter on a Boeing 747F. The volume clearly justifies a dedicated aircraft, and the destination may require specific logistics.

Scenario 2: 5 tonnes of automotive parts Paris-Shanghai

Recommended: part charter or commercial freight. The volume is too small for a full charter, and the route is well served.

Scenario 3: 2 tonnes of AOG parts, 12-hour delivery

Recommended: full charter on a small cargo aircraft (Learjet, Citation). Urgency trumps cost, and the volume does not allow waiting for consolidation.

Optimize Your Choice

The decision between full and part charter depends on the balance between urgency, volume, and budget. A cargo broker like Private Jets Connect analyzes your situation and recommends the best option. In many cases, the optimal solution is identified in under 30 minutes. Request a quote to explore both possibilities.

Private Jets Connect is ready to help you structure your air freight project.