CJI London: Choosing an AOC is a ‘bespoke process’

Choosing the right Air Operator Certificate (AOC) is a bespoke process where “the best AOC is the one that fits the client’s operational needs”, according to aircraft management executives speaking at CJI London 2026.

The consensus was that there is no single ‘best’ registry. Instead, success hinges on asking clients the right questions, in the right order, to tailor the solution.

The panel, featuring senior figures from ACASS, Luxaviation, and Comlux, took in a diverse set of AOC strategies.

Comlux CEO Andrea Zanetto detailed a three-AOC structure spanning Malta, Aruba and Kazakhstan, each established for specific operational needs. “Malta was English-speaking, dynamic and cost-efficient,” he said, noting it was the first international group to secure an AOC there post-EU accession.

Paul Doherty, managing director of ACASS, highlighted the strategic value of its Irish AOC for post-Brexit flexibility, calling it “the only native English-speaking EU member state registry”.

A central debate was whether owners choose the registry first or the operator. The panel strongly advocated that the operator should be the primary choice. “Registry is factual — a regulatory framework. Operator is service,” one panellist argued, adding that once the aircraft is registered, the owner should not have to think about compliance again. “Owners care about: ‘When do I fly? Where do I fly? What does it cost?’ They don’t care about audits and compliance structures.”

The timing of an aircraft’s arrival was cited as critical. If an aircraft is nine months out, operators can influence completion, crew recruitment and registration strategy. If it arrives “next Tuesday”, options are severely limited. The ideal process involves “three months of evaluation and planning, followed by three months of implementation”.

The first question for a prospective client should sometimes be whether they should buy an aircraft at all. The panel shared an anecdote of an owner flying 100 hours yearly who wanted to purchase and do “lots of charter”. The blunt advice was “don’t buy the aircraft”, buy a jet card instead.

The outlook for 2026 is strong, with growth expected in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia and parts of Africa. On the UK post-Brexit, the view was that the “dust has settled”, with private operations remaining stable and Malta and Ireland having benefited.