COMMERCIAL · GLOSSARY
Wet Lease
Also known as: ACMI
A lease of an aircraft together with crew, maintenance and insurance — the foundation of how brokered charter flights are actually operated.
Other names for Wet Lease
In the private aviation industry, Wet Lease is also commonly referred to as ACMI. These terms are used interchangeably by operators, brokers and crews.
IN PRACTICE
When you book a charter through a broker, the operating contract is almost always a wet lease (ACMI) between the broker and the certified operator. The broker remains the commercial counterparty; the operator carries the aircraft on its Air Operator Certificate.
A dry lease, by contrast, transfers only the aircraft, with the lessee responsible for crew and operations. Dry leases in the US are tightly regulated to prevent illegal charter.
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Frequently asked
What does Wet Lease mean in private aviation?
Also called ACMI. A lease of an aircraft together with crew, maintenance and insurance — the foundation of how brokered charter flights are actually operated.
How does wet lease work in practice?
When you book a charter through a broker, the operating contract is almost always a wet lease (ACMI) between the broker and the certified operator. The broker remains the commercial counterparty; the operator carries the aircraft on its Air Operator Certificate.
When is wet lease the right option for a charter client?
Wet lease fits flyers who match the usage pattern described above. For one-off trips, on-demand charter is usually more flexible; for recurring travel, structured products like jet cards or fractional programmes can be more predictable.
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