Air Charter Service Expands Manchester Office with Nearly Double the Floorspace
Why It MattersGrowth in regional charter demand around sports, technology and creative hubs is prompting brokers to scale local offices rather than serve such markets remotely.
What happened
Air Charter Service (ACS) has expanded its operations in northern England by moving into larger premises in Manchester, nearly doubling its office floorspace. The company opened its Manchester office in 2024 and has grown its client base across the region's technology, sports and music sectors since then.
Alex Sadat Shafai, CEO of ACS Manchester, said the team had already outgrown its original space within two years of opening, and that the new premises provide almost double the floorspace of the previous office, enabling further expansion. Shafai cited Manchester's status as a technology and creative hub and one of the fastest-growing cities in northern England, as well as the region's concentration of sporting venues, as key drivers of demand. He noted that six current Premier League football clubs are located within a 40-mile radius of the city, alongside cricket grounds and the Grand National at Aintree racecourse.
ACS said it has arranged more than 2,000 sports charter contracts over the past five years. The Manchester team provides helicopter, private jet and commercial airliner charters for regional clients and visitors to the area.
Industry impact & what to watch
A broker outgrowing its office within two years points to how quickly regional charter demand can build once a presence is established near concentrated sports, technology and creative activity rather than relying solely on national hubs like London.
Charter brokerage economics depend on proximity to decision-makers — sports clubs, event organisers and corporate clients booking helicopter, private jet or airliner lift on short notice — so a local team with established contacts can capture volume that a remote desk would miss. The scale of sports-related contracts cited here suggests that sporting calendars, rather than general business travel, are a significant driver of charter volume in this region.
Whether ACS's Manchester growth continues at the same pace will likely depend on how the region's technology and creative sectors expand alongside its established sporting fixtures.
