How Charter Operations Differ From Regular Passenger Flights: A Pilot’s Perspective

Growing up as an avid American sports fan, I wondered about the details behind how teams travel between cities. Like many people, I assumed that sports teams rented planes or had deals with particular airlines to transport them during the season. Fast-forward to the present day, and I know that my childhood supposition wasn’t too far from the truth, having now flown a few charter sectors as an airline pilot. This article will discuss charter operations and how they differ from passenger operations when conducted by airlines.