Understanding Who Operates Your Flight: A Guide to Airline Agreements
Translated & summarized from Israel Hayom by baba
Airlines commonly sell flights operated by other companies through arrangements like Wet Leases and Code Shares, a practice regulated in Israel. Passengers booking flights should look for the "Operated by" designation to identify the actual operating carrier, as the airline selling the ticket may not be the one flying the plane. Dry Leases involve leasing only the aircraft, while Wet Leases include the aircraft and crew, and Code Shares allow multiple airlines to sell seats on a single flight. This information is intended to be disclosed during the booking process.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Airlines can sell flights operated by other companies through Wet Leases and Code Shares.
- Passengers should look for "Operated by" to identify the actual flight operator.
- Wet Leases include aircraft and crew, while Dry Leases are for aircraft only.
- Code Share agreements allow multiple airlines to sell seats on the same flight.
- Israeli regulations require disclosure of the operating carrier during booking.
- Charter flights refer to the commercial booking method, not aircraft ownership.
Travelers may find themselves booking a flight with one airline but boarding a plane operated by another, a common occurrence in the aviation industry due to various commercial and operational agreements. These arrangements allow airlines to sell flights they don't operate themselves, use aircraft they don't own, and even lease planes with their crews. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for passengers.
A key concept is that airlines don't always own their entire fleet; many aircraft are leased long-term from leasing companies. The critical factor for passengers is not aircraft ownership but the operating license under which the flight is conducted and who holds the operational responsibility. In Israel, commercial aircraft operations require an Air Operator Certificate.
There are two main types of leases: Dry Lease and Wet Lease. In a Dry Lease, an airline leases an aircraft without a crew. The Israeli Civil Aviation Authority defines this as leasing an aircraft "without crew." The leasing airline operates the aircraft under its own license, providing its own flight and cabin crews, making the passenger experience largely indistinguishable from the airline's regular flights. The aircraft might even be painted in the airline's colors.
A Wet Lease, however, involves leasing not just the aircraft but typically a complete operational package, often referred to as ACIM (Aircraft, Crew, Maintenance, and Insurance). For example, an Israeli airline might sell a flight on its website but use an aircraft and crew from a foreign airline to operate it. In such cases, passengers might buy a ticket from the Israeli company but fly on a plane with foreign pilots and cabin crew. Israeli regulations mandate that this information, usually indicated by "Operated by," must be disclosed during the booking process.
Charter flights (Charter) refer to the commercial method of booking and marketing a flight, such as when a tour operator rents capacity. This term does not specify aircraft ownership or crew employment. Code Share is a different type of agreement where multiple airlines sell seats on the same flight. One airline is the Operating Carrier, performing the flight, while another is the Marketing Carrier, selling it under its own flight number. Passengers might book with one airline but fly on a plane operated by another. The article advises passengers to look for "Operated by" to identify the actual operating carrier, noting that the lower price is often offered by the operating airline.