The ACA calls upon industry to campaign for Fly Legal Day 2026

Leading global trade body The Air Charter Association (The ACA) is promoting Fly Legal Day, its campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of illegal charter, ahead of Wednesday 21st January 2026.

2026 marks the seventh anniversary of the air tragedy in which Premier League footballer Emiliano Sala and his pilot lost their lives in an illegal charter flight. In memory of this fatal accident and to continue to widen awareness and reduce illegal charter activity, The ACA designated the date, 21 January, as ‘Fly Legal Day’.

The ACA is calling upon all members, associations and air charter industry colleagues to join the online campaign on 21st January, to promote Fly Legal Day and continue to support The ACA in raising awareness of the danger posed by illegal charter flights. The campaign also aims to educate the industry and the public, to prevent the occurrence of future air tragedies.

Glenn Hogben, chief executive, The ACA says: “The ACA’s Fly Legal Day campaign is vital to raising awareness of the dangers posed by illegal charter flights. We encourage all members and industry colleagues to join us in sharing this important message: USE IT . . . an accredited ACA broker; CHECK IT . . . licensed aircraft and crew; REPORT IT . . . if you suspect it is illegal! Avoid illegal charter flights; know what is legal and fly safe every day.”

The ACA has its own reporting mechanism on its website, where air charter professionals and members of the public can report details of a suspected illegal charter flight. The ACA immediately passes on this information to the relevant civil aviation authority. In 2025, there were two such occasions where information passed via The ACA led to suspected illegal charter flights being prevented.

The ACA is committed to maintaining the highest industry standards and promotes best practice through its extensive professional training offering, ensuring that all participants are equipped with the knowledge to deliver the professional service that clients expect. Being an accredited member of The ACA provides customers with reassurance that a company is professional, experienced and trustworthy.

An illegal charter is an unlicensed aircraft charter, where the operator does not have an AOC (Air Operator Certificate), or Air Carrier Certificate (US); is operating a private aircraft and accepting payment for the flight, which is not legal. Operators without these licences are not required to adhere to the strict regulatory standards of maintenance, crew training and operational management that ensure the highest level of safety for travellers.

Fly Legal Day aims to shine a light on this dangerous and illicit practice, although rare, with the hope of preventing future tragedy.

The ACA invites the industry to download the full media pack

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 15th January 2026 | Issue #826