Business

FAA Moves to Restrict Public Charter Flights

The new regulatory change may shake-up business models for carriers like JSX.

Ryan Ewing

Monday, June 17, 2024 at 02:04 PM ET

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Edited By: tccjeremy

A JSX E-145 in Austin. The airline exclusively operates the Embraer jet. [Courtesy: AirlineGeeks | Mateen Kontoravdis]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is revising regulations for public charter operators like JSX, aiming to subject them to similar safety standards as major airlines, citing concerns about a regulatory "loophole" and expanding usage.
Major airlines and pilot unions support these changes, arguing that public charters currently operate scheduled-like services under less stringent Part 135 rules compared to Part 121.
Public charter operators, including JSX, oppose the stricter regulations, contending they would stifle innovation, jeopardize service to small communities, and that their current safety protocols are already excellent.
In addition to safety, the TSA is reviewing security requirements for public charter operators, as they are not currently mandated to screen passengers through traditional checkpoints.

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The FAA is moving to revise a regulation governing public charter operators. This change comes after scrutiny of the current rules, particularly regarding carriers like JSX that operate scheduled flights with smaller aircraft (30 seats or less) while following less stringent regulations compared to major airlines.

“Part of the safety mission of the FAA is identifying risk early on, and that’s exactly what we’re doing on public charters as usage expands,” said FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker in a statement. “If a company is effectively operating as a scheduled airline, the FAA needs to determine whether those operations should follow the same stringent rules as scheduled airlines.”

Ryan Ewing

Ryan is Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group, overseeing a portfolio that includes FLYING, AirlineGeeks, AVweb, Plane + Pilot, KITPLANES, and AircraftForSale.com. He founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has more than a decade of experience across aviation media, airport operations, airline workforce planning, and Part 135 regulatory compliance. His experience ranges from time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing aviation industry executives. Ryan holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and is an adjunct instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.