Liftbrief / Regulatory news and changes
What do air charter broker disclosure requirements under Part 295 actually give buyers?
Part 295 is an existing procurement protection, not a newly discovered 2026 rule. It distinguishes disclosures required before contracting for a specific flight or series from additional information the charterer must request, and contains provisions for information not yet known. (ecfr.gov)
| Disclosure category | Key information |
|---|---|
| Required disclosures | Operating carrier’s identity; broker’s contractual capacity; existence or absence and limits of relevant broker-held liability insurance |
| Disclosures available on request | Relevant carrier relationships when the broker acts as the charterer’s agent; total cost through the broker; known or estimated third-party charges payable directly by the charterer |
The rule does not require every individual tax or fee to be itemised. Sections 295.24–295.26 also address later or changed information, associated cancellation opportunities, and refunds when transportation cannot be performed or a refund is otherwise due. (ecfr.gov)
What should buyers put in the supplier email?
Use a request that goes beyond minimum disclosure where commercially necessary:
Please identify the operating carrier, your contractual role, and the relevant insurance disclosures. Please also provide the requested total-cost and third-party-charge information, identify any relevant carrier relationship, list unresolved items, and state when each will be confirmed. Separately, please explain the contractual consequences of an aircraft or operator substitution.
Label additional requirements—such as a tax-by-tax worksheet, replacement-price cap or prior approval of substitutions—as requested contract protections, not automatically mandated rights.
For jet card vs charter and membership comparisons, have counsel identify which obligations attach to the programme agreement and which attach to each flight. Do not infer that a rule addressing flight disclosures guarantees the recoverability of every prepaid balance.
Likewise, do not import public-charter protections indiscriminately into whole-aircraft charter. DOT distinguishes public charters, including their prospectus and passenger-fund protections, from single-entity charters. The product’s legal structure matters more than its marketing name. (transportation.gov)