Flying high: 2024’s memorable group charters

From flying 16,000 fans to the Rugby World Cup in France, to helping stargazers chase North America’s last total solar eclipse for twenty years, 2024 has been a year of highs for group charters. Read on for some of our Commercial Jet division’s highlights.

Boeing 747-VIP

For discerning travellers who wanted to elevate their group travel to that next level, the Boeing 747-VIP was a popular choice in 2024.

The iconic silhouette of the 747 has been a standout in the skies since 1968, and the VIP variation offers an unparalleled charter experience. The two-deck design seats almost two hundred passengers, and, with a mix of first class suites and lie-flat business seats, and enough catering to provide two full VIP meal services, it’s plain to see why this is one of our most requested charter aircraft.

The 747-VIP is often chartered for big celebrations and momentous life events like weddings, birthdays, and engagement parties. And, with our Flight Services team able to personalise the experience and tailor the interior with branded headrest covers, coasters, napkins and amenity kits, it’s no wonder that clients choose us to help start the celebration at the airport.

Read our spotlight on the 747-VIP to learn more about this aircraft.

Striking the right chord

When tasked with arranging air travel for a renowned German orchestra’s European tour, the organisers initially relied on scheduled services to keep costs down. However, faced with the challenge of limited availability, they decided that the best way to hit the right note was to engage the services of our dynamic commercial charters (COMMJ) division.

Swiftly organising the charters of two sleek narrow-body aircraft, an A321 and an A320, for the routes from Madrid to Hamburg and Berlin to Brussels our team orchestrated the logistics flawlessly. ensuring ample cabin space for the 120 orchestra members and their precious instruments. Larger instruments were carefully tethered to extra seats, while smaller ones found a snug fit in overhead compartments.

With the client’s budget in mind, we composed a cost-effective solution in just two days. Even when a ground-handling strike in Berlin threatened to derail our plans, we leveraged our industry relationships to secure a replacement handler, ensuring the orchestra’s tour continued seamlessly. The result? A symphony of success, with every detail perfectly in tune.

Transporting 16,000 fans from kick-off to touchdown

Flying 16,000 fans to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France was a thrilling and rewarding challenge for our Commercial Jet division; over seven weeks at the end of last year, they managed more than 100 charter flights from cities including Birmingham, Cardiff, London, and Dublin, ensuring that fans from England, Wales, and Ireland alike could support their teams abroad.

The intricate network of parts included collaborating with 11 operators (chartering a mix of Airbus and Boeing aircraft), navigating the high demand and air-traffic control strikes; despite all of this, the team tackled the challenge head-on, securing optimal flight slots on behalf of our clients. By closely monitoring live availability at airports, and working with handling agents on the ground, giving fans plenty of time to enjoy the match’s build-up.

Although planning began in 2021, the team still managed to remain flexible, accommodating last-minute requests and charters; the team was on the ground at departure airports, assisting with check-ins and co-ordinating involved parties. Flight Services added that bespoke ACS touch our clients expect, organising specialist catering and personalised headrest covers on board. Our operations team remained on call 24/7, keeping clients abreast of any potential weather issues, ensuring that each and every passenger had an exceptional experience on board

Getting down to business

When a travel agent in Asia needed to fly 75 automotive and financial employees on an incentive trip from Switzerland to Italy, our Hong Kong office put the pedal to the metal. The group was set to depart Zurich, before enjoying two nights in Bologna, finally departing for Milan.

With limited scheduled services, and the client’s requirement that everyone be on the same flight, our group charters team recommended the chartering of a sleek Boeing 737-800. Once given the green light, the team sourced the aircraft, with our Flight Services division adding personalised touches throughout the flight. Our global network paid dividends, helping us ensure seamless coordination when it came to their air travel; the client then arranged a stylish road transfer for the next leg of the trip.

Highlighting our Commercial Jet division’s flair for delivering tailored, efficient travel solutions, our partnership ensured our client’s incentive trip soared to new heights, making it a memorable adventure for their guests.

Houston, we have an eclipse

With a total solar eclipse crossing North America for the last time in twenty years, an events agency tasked our group charter division with helping a large group of eclipse chasers witness something truly out-of-this-world. Proudly taking up the mantle, our team set about securing a prime viewing spot for the cosmic phenomenon.

Initially, the client requested a round-trip charter from Houston to view the eclipse from the air. However, leveraging our experience, we advised that ground visibility would offer a superior vantage point. We arranged an Airbus A320 to fly the group to one of three shortlisted optimal viewing locations – however, due to the unpredictability of the weather, our team had to think on their feet to find an alternative viewing spot.

The group were able to bask in the unforgettable experience of the eclipse thanks to the rapid response of our team, before returning to Houston. With our unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional experiences, even under the most challenging circumstances, our Commercial Jets division were over the moon to be a guiding light for the eclipse-enthusiasts.

Venerating our veterans

When non-profit Honor Flight asked our commercial charter division to fly a group of military veterans to Washington D.C. for a same-day visit to war memorials, the team dedicated themselves to finding a solution for them. Considering the access needs of the veteran passengers (some of which were wheelchair users), the team sourced a Boeing 737-800, ensuring that the 180 veterans and their chaperones would be comfortably accommodated.

Meticulous planning ensured that the aircraft landed at the closest airport to the memorial, and that the veterans experience of boarding and disembarking was a comfortable and supported one. The team coordinated every detail, from the customisation of onboard catering to patriotic decorations, with an ACS team member on hand throughout the flights to ensure that the veterans experienced the service they deserved.

The return leg was planned to the minute, to ensure that the thousands of well-wishers invited to welcome the veterans home disembarked to rapturous applause.

Swooping on Sydney in time for the scrum

When an Australian travel agent asked our team Down Under to help fly 400 rugby players, their loved ones, and supporters, to the National Rugby League Grand Final, they sprung into action. The final is one of Australia’s most-watched sporting events, meaning that demand for charter was extremely high.

The team was able to quickly sidestep these obstacles, quickly securing an Airbus A330, a Boeing B737 and a Boeing B717 from two airlines to accommodate the group, even managing to handoff last-minute changes as they surfaced. Two of the ACS team accompanied the flights, ensuring that everything ran smoothly, and the schedule didn’t tip over into extra time. To round off the experience, the Flight Services team arranged branded gift bags for all passengers, making sure that, regardless of final scores, everyone had a corker.

At ACS, solving your charter conundrums is our raison d’être. With three decades of experience, and a global network over 30 offices, we are able to leverage our extensive local experience in your areas and market to provide the most appropriate charter solutions for our clients. To discuss your group charter requirements, contact your local ACS charter experts today.