Group charter flights in Canada
One aircraft for the whole group: a company offsite, a tour, a wedding party or a team. Which aircraft Canadian operators fly, the licences behind them and how the price is built.
- Heavy business jets
- 136 on our list
- Regional airliners
- 96 turboprops
- Licences
- Transport Canada and CTA
- Priced
- Per aircraft
What a group charter is
You hire the whole aircraft and set the route and the times. The operator needs a Transport Canada air operator certificate, and a publicly available air service also needs a Canadian Transportation Agency licence. Small groups fit a heavy business jet, and larger groups fly on a regional turboprop airliner such as the Dash 8 or ATR 72, or on a jet airliner.
Canadian licence holders on our list fly 136 heavy business jets and 96 regional turboprop airliners: Dash 8s, ATR 42s and 72s, and Saab 340s.
The aircraft follows the headcount and the bags. A heavy jet from the Challenger 604, 605 and 650 family or the Global 6000 keeps a small group in a business-jet cabin. Larger groups move to a turboprop airliner, and the biggest to a jet airliner from a carrier that sells whole-aircraft charters, such as Air Canada's Jetz service.
Jetz flies four Airbus A320s fitted with 70 business class seats for professional sports teams, entertainment groups and corporate clients. It is not on our operator list, and we name it only as an example of what a jet airliner charter looks like.
Altivo Jets compares carriers, names the operator and its licences on your quote and gives one price for the aircraft. See is my flight legal? for how to check a carrier yourself.
Sources:Canadian Aviation Regulations s. 700.02, air operator certificate, checked 19 October 2026Canadian Transportation Agency: FAQ, air licensing (aircraft size classes, charter permits, insurance), checked 19 October 2026Air Canada: Air Canada Jetz charters (four A320s with 70 business class seats, teams served), checked 19 October 2026
Which aircraft for your group
| Group | Aircraft | Operators on our list |
|---|---|---|
| Small group | Heavy business jet: Challenger 604, 605 and 650, Global 6000, Falcon 900 and 7X | Skyservice, I.M.P. Group, Chartright, NovaJet |
| Regional group | Turboprop airliner: Dash 8, ATR 42 and 72, Saab 340 | Voyageur Airways, Central Mountain Air, Transwest Air, Pascan, Pacific Coastal, Pivot Airlines |
| Large group | Jet airliner, for example an Airbus A320 with 70 business class seats (Air Canada Jetz) | Quoted from carriers that sell whole-aircraft charters |
Seat counts depend on each aircraft's cabin layout, so the operator confirms the certified capacity for your headcount and bags. Fleet figures are from the Canadian licence holders on our operator list.
Tell us the dates and passengers. A specialist replies with aircraft options and an all-in price, around the clock.
Licences and passenger rules for a group charter
Two federal bodies are involved. Transport Canada certifies the operator, and the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) licenses the air service and sets the passenger protection rules.
- Nobody may operate an air transport service in Canada without a Transport Canada air operator certificate (CAR 700.02).
- A CTA domestic licence authorises a Canadian carrier to run a publicly available air service within Canada. For international charters, a non-scheduled international licence applies and the carrier must meet the Agency's charter permit requirements before it flies.
- The CTA classes aircraft by passenger capacity: small aircraft carry up to 39 passengers, medium aircraft 40 to 89, and large aircraft more than 89.
- Licensees must hold the minimum passenger and public liability insurance set in sections 7 and 8 of the Air Transportation Regulations, and file a certificate of insurance every year.
- The Air Passenger Protection Regulations apply to a charter when at least one seat is bought for resale to the public and the flight is within Canada, or to or from Canada with at least one passenger whose itinerary began in Canada. Tell us if any seats will be resold, for example in a tour package.
- Altivo Jets is a broker. We name the operator, its air operator certificate and its CTA licence on your quote before you book.
Sources:Canadian Aviation Regulations s. 700.02, air operator certificate, checked 19 October 2026Canadian Transportation Agency: FAQ, air licensing (aircraft size classes, charter permits, insurance), checked 19 October 2026Canadian Transportation Agency: Application of the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, a guide (section 5, charter flights), checked 19 October 2026Canadian Transportation Agency: is your air carrier licensed?, checked 19 October 2026
Airports that take larger aircraft
| Airport | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toronto Pearson (CYYZ) | 27 km west of Toronto | Open 24 hours, airport of entry, 11,120 ft runway |
| Billy Bishop Toronto City (CYTZ) | Toronto Islands, beside downtown | Jets banned except medevac flights. 3,988 ft main runway, open 06:45 to 23:00, customs for aircraft with up to 90 passengers |
| Montréal-Trudeau (CYUL) | 20 km west of Montréal | Open 24 hours, airport of entry, 11,000 ft runway |
| Calgary International (CYYC) | 7 km north-east of Calgary | Open 24 hours, airport of entry, 14,000 ft runway |
| Regina International (CYQR) | 4 km south-west of Regina | Airport of entry, 7,901 ft runway, winter hours 06:00 to 23:00 Saskatchewan time |
Airport data from Acukwik and the airport's published rules. The operator checks runway performance, parking and customs for each aircraft and date.
Sources:Acukwik: Toronto Pearson International (CYYZ)Wikipedia: Billy Bishop Toronto City AirportAcukwik: Billy Bishop Toronto City (CYTZ), checked 19 October 2026Acukwik: Montréal-Trudeau International (CYUL)Acukwik: Calgary International (CYYC)Acukwik: Regina International (CYQR)
How a group charter is priced
Heavy business jets are priced per flight hour for the whole aircraft, at about C$16,870 to C$26,270. Airliner charters are quoted per trip.
Both add positioning when the aircraft is based elsewhere, airport, handling and parking charges, crew costs for overnight trips and taxes, all set out on the quote. See charter taxes and fees for the Canadian taxes that apply.
How to book a group charter
- 01Share the trip
Dates, route, headcount, bags and any equipment, such as sports kit or stage gear.
- 02Compare carriers
We check which operators have the right aircraft free and confirm crew, slots, parking and customs.
- 03Sign and pay
You sign a charter agreement for the whole aircraft and pay before departure.
Aircraft Canadian operators fly for groups
From heavy business jets to regional turboprop airliners.
Questions, answered
Still deciding? A charter specialist will talk you through aircraft, airports and price, with no obligation.
Ask a specialistHow many people fit on a group charter?+
It depends on the aircraft and its cabin layout. Heavy business jets suit small groups, Dash 8, ATR and Saab 340 turboprops carry regional groups, and jet airliners take the largest. The operator confirms the certified capacity for your headcount.
Does the operator need a licence?+
Yes. A Transport Canada air operator certificate, and for a publicly available air service a Canadian Transportation Agency licence. We name both on your quote.
Do the passenger protection rules apply to a group charter?+
They apply to a charter when at least one seat is bought for resale to the public and the flight is within Canada, or to or from Canada with at least one passenger whose itinerary began in Canada.
How is a group charter priced?+
For the whole aircraft. Heavy jets charter at about C$16,870 to C$26,270 per flight hour, and airliner charters are quoted per trip, with positioning, airport charges and taxes on top.
Can we fly one way?+
Yes, though you may pay for the aircraft to fly back empty.
Fares, dates and rules on this page were checked on 19 October 2026. Official fares and schedules change every season; the operator or authority named in each source has the final word.
- 1.Canadian Aviation Regulations s. 700.02, air operator certificate, checked 19 October 2026
- 2.Canadian Transportation Agency: FAQ, air licensing (aircraft size classes, charter permits, insurance), checked 19 October 2026
- 3.Air Canada: Air Canada Jetz charters (four A320s with 70 business class seats, teams served), checked 19 October 2026
- 4.Canadian Transportation Agency: Application of the Air Passenger Protection Regulations, a guide (section 5, charter flights), checked 19 October 2026
- 5.Canadian Transportation Agency: is your air carrier licensed?, checked 19 October 2026
- 6.Acukwik: Toronto Pearson International (CYYZ)
- 7.Wikipedia: Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
- 8.Acukwik: Billy Bishop Toronto City (CYTZ), checked 19 October 2026
- 9.Acukwik: Montréal-Trudeau International (CYUL)
- 10.Acukwik: Calgary International (CYYC)
- 11.Acukwik: Regina International (CYQR)
Move the whole group together.
A specialist replies around the clock with aircraft options, the operator's name and an all-in price.