Flexjet Operations Ireland wins US foreign air carrier permit for transatlantic charter services

Flexjet Operations Ireland, the Irish subsidiary of US fractional jet operator Flexjet, has secured a foreign air carrier permit from the United States Department of Transportation, authorising it to conduct on-demand charter services between Ireland and the United States using large aircraft.

According to Aeroxplorer, the Department of Transportation issued the permit after determining that Flexjet's Irish unit met fitness, citizenship and regulatory requirements for operating into US territory. The approval aligns with the Air Transport Agreement between the United States and the European Union, which governs commercial aviation rights between member states and American jurisdictions.

The clearance operates through Flexjet Operations Ireland as an affiliate of Flexjet Operations Malta Limited, and gives Flexjet the flexibility to position aircraft on either side of the Atlantic without relying solely on its US-registered fleet for transatlantic missions. Without such a permit, foreign-registered aircraft face restrictions on commercial operations within US airspace, limiting revenue generation and operational efficiency for international fractional operators.

Flexjet, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, ranks among the largest fractional jet operators in the world and has been expanding its European presence in recent years to compete more directly with NetJets in the fractional ownership market. The Irish approval supports that strategy by enabling the company to conduct one-way charter flights, reposition aircraft for owner missions and offer clients seamless service across transatlantic jurisdictions.

Ireland has become an increasingly attractive base for business jet operators, offering a stable regulatory environment within the European Union, access to a large pool of aviation talent and favourable operational frameworks for internationally active operators. Flexjet's decision to establish its European expansion through an Irish subsidiary reflects a broader industry pattern of operators seeking EU market access through Irish-domiciled entities.

The company has been adding ultra-long-range aircraft to its European fleet, including Gulfstream and Bombardier Global series jets well-suited to transatlantic operations, with nonstop range covering major European cities to key US destinations including New York, Boston and Miami.

The approval marks a further step in the maturation of Flexjet's European division and its ability to offer clients a fully integrated transatlantic fractional ownership and charter proposition from a single platform.

Access the full regulatory approval details and strategic background in the full coverage.