About Us
click here for a message from the chairman
click here for an introduction to BACA
Welcome to the Baltic Air Charter Association's web site, I hope it gives you an insight into our activities.
BACA represents the interests of commercial aviation companies particularly in the aircharter industries and markets. Membership is just on 125 companies including airbrokers, charter airlines, airports, business aircraft operators, freight forwarders, consultants and others.
Our principal objective is to promote integrity and ethical business practices so members can deal with each other with confidence, regardless where they're based or whether they have met each other before.
BACA also lobbies at a political level (it is recognised by both the UK CAA and Department of Transport) and regularly takes a stance on contentious issues that could be negative for the industry. For example, in 1999 we successfully campaigned against the imposition of the CAA Air Travel Organisers' License requirements on brokers and intermediaries. BACA's view was that they should not be required to provide protection to the charterer, as no reciprocal protection was available to charterers when dealing with an aircraft operator directly.
We have a lot of obstacles to face including Fifth Freedom rights, the grave ATC situation in Europe and the threat of US carriers enjoying more rights than airlines in Europe.
BACA's effectiveness comes directly from its members and the more we have the greater our representation. New members are always welcome!
BACA is the successor of the Airbrokers' Association founded by members of the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange in March 1949. Its purpose was to bring to aircraft chartering the same standards of integrity and professionalism for which the Baltic Exchange and the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers have for so long been known and respected.
In 1976 membership was opened to include airlines and other non-members of the Exchange who could show they operate their aviation business to the same high standards set by the original association. The name changed accordingly to its present title. Recent advances in communications has resulted in little aircharter trading now taking place on the floor of the Exchange but members use the facilities offered for social functions and private meetings.
The Baltic Exchange gives BACA very generous support with administrative resources so the council of BACA unreservedly recommends members to join the Exchange as independent members and has arranged advantageous terms. Located in the heart of the City of London, the Exchange gives members a central base where they can hold meetings, hire secretarial services, use the bar and restaurant, review their emails etc. Details are available at The Baltic Exchange's own web site.
The name of the Exchange itself, Baltic, originates from the city coffee house of that name where shippers and merchants met to conduct business in the early 18th century. Similarly, Mr Lloyd's coffee house was where London's insurance market started.