When commercial flights can't accommodate your cargo size, urgency, or destination—charter a dedicated aircraft. Complete control, maximum speed, and the flexibility to depart on your schedule, not an airline's.
Emergency air cargo charter provides dedicated aircraft exclusively for your shipment. Unlike commercial cargo services that share space with other shippers' freight, charter gives you the entire aircraft. You control departure timing, routing, and handling procedures. The plane leaves when you're ready, flies directly to your destination without unnecessary stops, and operates according to your requirements rather than a published schedule.
This service level exists for situations where commercial options cannot meet your needs. Oversized cargo that exceeds standard aircraft dimensions, extremely urgent shipments requiring immediate departure, hazardous materials requiring specialized handling, or deliveries to airports with limited commercial service—these scenarios make charter not just preferable but necessary.
Charter costs significantly more than commercial cargo, but the investment makes sense when cargo value, urgency, or specifications justify complete control over the transport process. A single charter flight might cost $50,000-$200,000 depending on aircraft size and distance, yet this expense becomes reasonable when it prevents millions in production losses or protects time-critical projects worth exponentially more.
Charter service proves cost-effective and operationally necessary in specific scenarios where commercial cargo cannot meet requirements.
Equipment exceeding standard cargo container dimensions, requiring cargo door removals, specialized loading, or aircraft with unique capacity specifications.
When you need to move 8+ pallets urgently, charter becomes cost-competitive with booking that much commercial space—often with faster transit.
Some hazmat classifications face restrictions on commercial passenger flights. Dedicated cargo aircraft accept materials that would otherwise face delays or rejections.
Airports with infrequent or nonexistent commercial cargo service. Charter can deliver directly to locations where commercial options require multiple connections and days of transit.
When you can't wait for the next commercial flight schedule—no matter how soon. Charter departs as soon as the aircraft is ready, which can be within 2-4 hours of your call.
High-value cargo, sensitive prototypes, or shipments requiring enhanced security. Dedicated aircraft means only your cargo aboard, with controlled access throughout.
Charter service access spans from small turboprops to Boeing 747 freighters. Selecting the appropriate aircraft balances cargo specifications, distance requirements, and cost considerations. Our charter specialists evaluate your needs and recommend the optimal aircraft for your specific situation.
Capacity: Up to 1,500 kg (3,300 lbs)
Range: 1,500-2,500 km
Examples: King Air, Caravan, PC-12
Small turboprop aircraft offering rapid deployment for time-critical shipments. These planes access smaller airports that jets cannot reach, making them ideal for deliveries to remote locations or regional facilities.
Ideal For: Critical spare parts, medical supplies, urgent documents, small equipment to remote locations
Capacity: 5,000-15,000 kg
Range: 3,000-5,000 km
Examples: ATR 72F, Saab 340, Metro III
Regional cargo aircraft providing excellent balance between capacity and operational flexibility. Perfect for shipments too large for light aircraft but not requiring wide-body jets.
Ideal For: Multiple pallets, machinery components, emergency inventory replenishment, regional distribution
Capacity: 15,000-25,000 kg
Range: 4,000-6,500 km
Examples: Boeing 737-800F, Airbus A321F
Jet freighters offering significant capacity with intercontinental range capability. These aircraft handle substantial cargo volumes while maintaining speed and reliability advantages of modern jet technology.
Ideal For: Production line restarts, large equipment moves, disaster response, multi-pallet urgent shipments
Capacity: 40,000-100,000 kg
Range: 8,000-13,000 km
Examples: Boeing 767F, 777F, 747-8F
Heavy cargo jets capable of moving massive shipments intercontinentally. These aircraft accommodate oversized cargo through side cargo doors and offer unmatched capacity for emergency movements of substantial freight volumes.
Ideal For: Complete production lines, aircraft engines, heavy machinery, infrastructure components, disaster relief operations
From your emergency call to wheels up, our charter team coordinates every detail to ensure rapid deployment and flawless execution.
Call our charter hotline 24/7. We gather critical information: cargo specifications (dimensions, weight, special requirements), origin and destination, urgency requirements, and budget parameters. This conversation typically takes 5-10 minutes.
Our charter specialists simultaneously search available aircraft matching your requirements. We evaluate options based on capacity, range, availability, and positioning costs. You receive aircraft options with pricing within 15-30 minutes.
Comprehensive quote includes aircraft rental, crew, fuel, airport fees, permits, and handling charges. Once approved, we secure the aircraft immediately and begin coordination. Payment terms accommodate urgent situations.
Our operations team handles all regulatory requirements: overflight permits, landing permits, customs documentation, hazmat declarations if applicable. This process runs parallel to aircraft preparation.
Ground crew arrives at your location to collect cargo. For oversized items, specialized loading equipment deploys as needed. Loading supervised by experienced cargo handlers familiar with the specific aircraft type.
Aircraft departs according to your approved schedule. You receive real-time flight tracking, regular status updates, and immediate notification of any changes. Direct communication with charter coordinator throughout flight.
Upon landing, our destination team coordinates customs clearance and immediate delivery to your specified location. Expedited processing ensures minimal ground time between landing and delivery.
These case studies demonstrate how emergency charter service solves logistics challenges that commercial cargo cannot address, delivering measurable business value that far exceeds the charter investment.
Challenge: Critical stamping press component failed at Mexican assembly plant. Part manufactured only in Germany. Production generates $85,000/hour. Nearest commercial flight: 3 days (72 hours = $6.1M production loss).
Charter cost: $145,000. Production resumed after 24-hour shutdown ($2.04M loss) vs. 72 hours with commercial freight ($6.1M loss). Charter decision saved $3.9M in production losses, minus $145K charter premium = $3.76M net benefit. ROI: 2,593%.
Challenge: Undersea cable landing station equipment failure on remote Pacific island. No commercial cargo service to destination. Population of 12,000 completely without internet/telecommunications. Equipment unique, no substitutes available.
Charter cost: $78,000. Restored communications for entire island population within 18 hours. Commercial alternative would have required shipping to nearest hub + inter-island freight: 8-12 days minimum. Charter avoided regulatory penalties for service interruption ($50K/day) and maintained SLA with government contract. Total value delivered: $600K+ penalty avoidance plus reputational protection.
Challenge: Drilling equipment failure on North Sea oil platform. Rig producing $2.3M/day in oil revenue. Replacement equipment oversized for commercial cargo. Weather window closing for helicopter transfer to platform.
Charter cost: $198,000. Equipment arrived Aberdeen with 6 hours to spare before weather window closed. Helicopter transfer completed successfully. Rig resumed production after 3-day shutdown (loss: $6.9M) vs. estimated 10+ days with commercial freight routing (loss: $23M+). Charter investment represented less than 1% of production value protected.
Understanding the crossover point where charter becomes cost-effective helps you make informed decisions during logistics emergencies.
The decision factors extend beyond direct costs. Consider: production losses prevented, contractual penalties avoided, competitive advantages maintained, and reputational value protected. Charter frequently delivers ROI exceeding 500-2000% in genuine emergencies.
Beyond the obvious benefit of dedicated capacity, charter service delivers operational and strategic advantages that commercial cargo cannot match, particularly in emergency situations where control and speed determine success.
Depart when you're ready, not when a published schedule allows. Aircraft can be wheels-up within 2-4 hours of confirmation, any time of day or night.
Fly point-to-point without connections, hub transfers, or consolidation delays. Your cargo moves from origin to destination without intermediate handling.
Specify exactly how your cargo is loaded, secured, and transported. Special equipment, temperature control, or unique requirements accommodated without compromise.
Your cargo alone in the aircraft. No exposure to other shippers' freight, controlled access throughout, ideal for sensitive or high-value shipments.
Access airports commercial cargo doesn't serve. Land at facilities closest to your final delivery point, even if they lack regular cargo service.
No risk of bumped cargo due to overbooking or higher-priority freight. Your cargo flies on the aircraft you've chartered, guaranteed.
For aircraft already positioned at or near your origin airport, departure is possible within 2-4 hours of confirmation. This timeframe includes flight planning, crew scheduling, fueling, and regulatory notifications. If an aircraft requires repositioning from another location, add positioning flight time (typically 1-3 hours for regional moves). Our charter specialists provide realistic timelines during your initial call based on current aircraft positions and availability.
Comprehensive charter quotes include: aircraft rental, crew salaries and expenses, fuel (calculated for your specific route including reserves), airport landing and handling fees at both origin and destination, navigation and overflight charges, permits required for the route, insurance, and our coordination services. Additional costs may include positioning flights if aircraft must reposition to your origin, de-icing in winter conditions, after-hours airport surcharges, and customs broker fees. We provide detailed breakdowns so you understand exactly what you're paying for.
Yes, our charter network operates worldwide. International charters require additional coordination for permits, customs, and regulatory compliance, but our operations team handles these complexities. Some countries require advance notice for overflight or landing permits (typically 24-72 hours), which can affect timing for ultra-urgent charters. We advise on these considerations during quote development and work to expedite permits whenever possible through established relationships with aviation authorities.
Charter pricing is based on the aircraft, not cargo weight (within the aircraft's capacity limits). You pay for the entire aircraft whether you use 30% or 100% of its capacity. This makes charter most cost-effective when cargo volume is substantial, urgency is extreme, or your cargo's unique characteristics (size, hazmat, destination) prevent commercial options. For smaller urgent shipments, Next Flight Out service using commercial flights typically offers better value.
Yes, charter aircraft can operate around the clock, though some airports have curfews or night operations restrictions that affect scheduling. Our charter coordinators work 24/7/365 to arrange flights regardless of when you call. Night departures may incur after-hours surcharges at certain airports, but these costs are typically minor compared to the time saved by immediate departure rather than waiting for daytime operations.
Charter makes sense when: (1) Cargo exceeds commercial size/weight limits, (2) Destination lacks adequate commercial cargo service, (3) Hazmat restrictions limit commercial options, (4) You're moving 8+ pallets urgently (charter becomes cost-competitive), (5) Time sensitivity justifies the premium (production worth $50K/hour stopped), or (6) Security/confidentiality requires dedicated transport. Our specialists help you evaluate whether your situation justifies charter versus commercial expedited options, providing honest recommendations based on your specific needs and budget.
Our charter specialists evaluate your requirements and arrange the optimal aircraft 24/7/365.