// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did Air Charter Scotland say to the plane? You're cleared for departure.
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| Founded | 2003 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Operating bases | Glasgow Airport Luton Airport Malta International Airport Wick Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 9 | ||||||
| Destinations | Private Charter & 1 Scheduled | ||||||
| Headquarters | East Kilbride, Scotland | ||||||
| Key people | George McFarlane (Chairman) Derek Thomson (COO) | ||||||
| Website | aircharterscotland | ||||||
Air Charter Scotland Limited operating as Air Charter Scotland, is a British private charter and regional airline headquartered in East Kilbride, near Glasgow, Scotland. Established in 2003, the company traditionally specialized in business jet management and global executive charter services.[1] In January 2026, it expanded into scheduled domestic commercial operations after being awarded a Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract by The Highland Council.[2]
History
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Air Charter Scotland was acquired by George McFarlane in 2003. Over two decades, it evolved from a small operator of piston-twin aircraft into a global executive charter firm managing a fleet of long-range heavy jets. In 2020, the company launched a Maltese subsidiary, Air Charter Scotland Europe (ICAO: SCO), to facilitate continued access to the European market following Brexit.[3][4][5]
Following the collapse of Eastern Airways in October 2025, the vital "lifeline" air link between Wick and Aberdeen was suspended. In December 2025, Air Charter Scotland was selected as the new operator for the Public Service Obligation (PSO) route.[6][7]
Scheduled operations commenced on 14 January 2026. Due to initial regulatory requirements, the service began using a Beechcraft King Air 200 operated by DragonFly Executive Air Charter, with plans to transition to an 18-seat Jetstream 32 wet-leased from AIS Airlines by March 2026. The airline has stated its intention to add the Jetstream type to its own AOC to fully integrate the scheduled regional division.[8]
Services
[edit]The airline operates in three distinct sectors:[9]
- Executive Charter: Ad-hoc private jet travel for corporate and VIP clients.[10]
- Aircraft Management: Turnkey management solutions for private aircraft owners.[11]
- Scheduled Regional: A daily PSO service connecting Wick, Caithness to Scotland's regional hub in Aberdeen.
Fleet
[edit]As of January 2026, Air Charter Scotland's fleet includes a mix of executive jets and regional turboprops:[12][13]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Embraer Legacy 500 | 1 | — | |
| Embraer Legacy 650 | 1 | — | |
| Bombardier Challenger 350 | 2 | — | Operated by Maltese subsidiary Air Charter Scotland Europe |
| Cessna Citation CJ4 | 1 | — | |
| Cessna Citation Latitude | 1 | — | |
| Cessna Citation Excel | 2 | — | Operated by Maltese subsidiary Air Charter Scotland Europe |
| Jetstream 32 | 1 | — | Operated by AIS Airlines[14] |
| Total | 9 | — |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Our History". Air Charter Scotland. 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "Successful Wick – Aberdeen air service operator announced". The Highland Council. 2025-12-23. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "Air Charter Scotland - ch-aviation". ch-aviation. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "Air Charter Scotland receives last Malta AOC of 2020". Corporate Jet Investor. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "Air Charter Scotland". LinkedIn. 2026-01-28. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Munro, Rob (2026-01-16). "Air Charter Scotland reinstates key PSO route". LARA. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ In brief Airliner World March 2026 page 7
- ↑ "Wick–Aberdeen Air Service Update". The Highland Council. 2026-01-13. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "Air Charter Scotland". Business Air News. 2026-01-02. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "Luxury Private Aircraft Charter". Air Charter Scotland. 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "Aircraft Management". Air Charter Scotland. 2022-10-20. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "Our Fleet". Air Charter Scotland. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ "A Definitive Resource for Online Aircraft Charter". Air Charter Guide. Retrieved 2026-01-31.
- ↑ Hendry, Alan (2026-03-03). "Wick/Aberdeen flights 'going from strength to strength' as talks continue on funding". John O'Groat Journal. Retrieved 2026-03-16.
External links
[edit]
Media related to Air Charter Scotland at Wikimedia Commons