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Ranking the Best Private Jet Charter Brokers 2026: Global Brokers, Air Charter Service, and Key Rivals
A chief financial officer at a European manufacturer has been asked to choose a preferred charter broker for the year. The shortlist on her desk includes Air Charter Service, the name most of the board recognises, alongside several rivals she knows less well. Her brief from the chief executive is short: speed, cost control and no surprises.
That is a procurement decision, and it deserves procurement criteria rather than brand recognition alone. This ranking compares Air Charter Service with seven global rivals on price visibility, commitment terms, access and disclosure, so a buyer can see where the familiar name fits and where others may serve better. The facts below come from each broker's own published pages and their pricing tools, and outside sources are noted where used. Company claims are marked as such throughout.
Quick picks
- JetAlto: seeing a price before you enquire
- Air Charter Service: global offices and mission range
- Victor: the aircraft named before booking
The Field at a Glance
Broker |
Price before contact |
Commitment |
Global presence stated |
JetAlto |
Instant estimate, no email |
None |
London, New York, Dubai, Singapore |
Air Charter Service |
Worked examples |
Optional jet card |
43 offices, six continents |
XO |
Real time in app |
Optional membership |
US shared routes |
Villiers Jets |
AI estimate ranges |
None, per a third party |
40,000+ destinations |
Victor |
Not listed |
Free membership |
Teams in UAE, UK, USA |
Monarch Air Group (Mercury Jets) |
Mercury rate range |
Not listed |
Florida and New York |
Evojets |
Cost calculator |
Optional programs |
Flights in 119 countries |
FXAIR (formerly PrivateFly) |
Not listed |
Optional membership |
New York and UK |
Who Should Use a Charter Broker at All
For most companies, a broker is the right tool when travel is irregular and varied, which describes the pattern of most corporate private flying. Different cities, group sizes and dates each time call for access to many operators, and a broker brings that access to one request without any prepaid commitment.
The case weakens when hours are high and predictable. A firm flying the same routes every month may prefer a jet card or membership with fixed rates, and several brokers here offer one alongside their charter service.
The third case is complexity. Trips that need an airliner, cargo capacity or a courier sit outside most brokers' core offer, and that is where Air Charter Service's range becomes valuable. For everything else, the deciding factors are how quickly a broker produces a usable price and how much it tells you about the aircraft.
The Field, Led from the Front
1) JetAlto
For a finance lead choosing a preferred supplier, the first question is cost, and JetAlto answers it before any conversation. Its instant estimate appears without an email address and covers fuel, crew and handling, with the firm quote able to move 15% either way. That number can go straight into an approval request.
Each request then returns 2 to 4 operator quotes naming the aircraft and tail number, which the company says arrive within 15 minutes, so a decision can follow the same day. There is no membership or retainer, so choosing JetAlto as a preferred broker carries no fixed cost. The safety standards it names apply to its operators, not to JetAlto, so request the safety file during onboarding.
Key features:
- Instant estimate before contact
- Several named operator quotes per request
- No membership or annual retainer
- Payment by wire or in crypto
Pricing: hourly rates from €3,800 for a light jet and €5,400 for a midsize.
2) Air Charter Service
Air Charter Service began in 1990 in the basement of founders Chris and Tina Leach's home, and has grown into a global broker with 43 offices; the Monaco office, opened in June 2026, was the 43rd. The company reports revenue above $1 billion in each of the past six years. A third-party source names Justin Bowman as chief executive and an owner alongside Chris Leach.
For a procurement team, its strengths are range and presence: private jets, airliners, cargo and couriers, with a dedicated account manager and a charter specialist per enquiry. Its online estimates exclude tax or VAT, and its accreditation pages were not publicly available.
Key features:
- 43 offices on six continents
- Airliner, cargo and courier charter
- Dedicated account manager
- Empyrean Jet Card option
Pricing: examples only, such as a 1.5-hour midsize flight at about $34,500.
3) XO
XO, part of the Vista group, lets companies buy single seats on shared flights as well as whole aircraft, a flexible option for teams that rarely need a full cabin. New York to South Florida shared flights run up to four times a day, which suits teams travelling together on that corridor.
A corporate membership exists, but XO's own pages show two different membership structures, so confirm current terms before signing. Licensed carriers fly every trip it sells.
Key features:
- Shared, crowdfunded and whole aircraft options
- Corporate membership
- App booking
- 24/7 support
Pricing: real time in the app; $395 per shared seat for non-members.
4) Villiers Jets
Villiers gives a procurement team a number early: its homepage estimates prices with an AI model the company says works within 10%, such as Malaga to Nice in a light jet at $11K to $16K.
Its stated reach of 10,000+ certified aircraft is wide, and it accepts Bitcoin. Accreditations were not stated on its public pages, so a procurement team should request operator credentials as part of onboarding.
Key features:
- AI estimates before contact
- Large stated aircraft pool
- Shared seats and empty legs
- Human agent per trip
Pricing: estimate ranges on its homepage.
5) Victor
Victor suits compliance teams that must approve the aircraft before anyone travels. Each quote names the operator, aircraft details and tail number, with current images and a fuel burn estimate.
It is ARGUS certified and works only with AOC certified operators. Prices are not published and its current fee model is not stated, which slows budgeting.
Key features:
- Aircraft disclosure before booking
- ARGUS certified
- Dedicated broker per trip
- SAF option
Pricing: not published; free membership.
6) Monarch Air Group (Mercury Jets)
Monarch serves corporate and government clients from Fort Lauderdale International Airport, with cargo, leasing and jet management alongside charter. Its safety page explains that staff pass government security vetting and that every passenger and crew member is checked against the US no fly list.
Mercury Jets, its charter division, itemises special services and takes payment in four currencies or crypto. Both hold ARGUS broker certification.
Key features:
- Security screening
- ARGUS certification
- Itemised quotes
- Cargo capability
Pricing: around $1,800 to $12,500 hourly, per Mercury's estimator.
7) Evojets
Evojets suits smaller firms that want a single adviser who knows their preferences. Its team of 15 has arranged flights in 119 countries, and Europe trips are quoted in USD only.
Route pages carry a cost calculator for early budgeting. Accreditation badges and support hours were not shown on its site.
Key features:
- One point of contact for every trip
- USD quotes for Europe
- Cost calculator
- Membership programs
Pricing: past price ranges on each route page.
8) FXAIR (formerly PrivateFly)
FXAIR gives companies a consistent cabin through FXSelect aircraft from the Flexjet group, plus partner operators. Its UK flight team works 24/7 and its US office is in New York.
Prices are not published, and memberships require a deposit, which may suit companies that already know their annual hours.
Key features:
- FXSelect fleet
- Two-shore presence
- Aviator memberships
- FXAIR app
Pricing: not published.
FAQ
How does Air Charter Service compare with other global brokers?
ACS leads this group on physical presence and mission range, with 43 offices and airliner and cargo capability, which matters most for complex or multi-country trips. JetAlto leads on price visibility, and Victor on aircraft disclosure.
Is Air Charter Service a private jet operator?
No. ACS describes itself as a broker that neither operates aircraft nor carries passengers in its own name, and operational control stays with the operator.
Which global broker shows prices before contact?
JetAlto shows an instant estimate without an email, and Villiers shows AI estimate ranges on its homepage.
Does a company need a membership to use these brokers?
No. JetAlto requires none, and memberships at Victor are free. ACS and FXAIR offer optional programs.
What should a preferred broker agreement include?
Approval limits, required safety documents, cancellation terms and named contacts for out-of-hours requests. It should also set out how quickly the broker must respond, and in what format quotes should arrive.
How should a company compare quotes from different brokers?
Match the aircraft class, dates and inclusions, then compare totals. A published estimate or rate card helps flag outliers, and asking two brokers for the same trip quickly shows which one prices fairly.
Which Broker Should You Choose
Choose JetAlto if you need a price for approval before any conversation, with no fixed commitment.
Choose Air Charter Service if your company needs global offices or airliner and cargo capability.
Choose Victor if compliance must approve the aircraft before booking anything at all.
Choose XO if teams often travel together on its shared routes, such as New York to South Florida.
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