Glossary
Wet Lease
Why it matters
Why wet lease matters
Passengers buying transport should know whether they are on a Part 135 charter with a named certificate holder, not an informal lease structure dressed up as a booking. Wet-lease language on a proposal can signal a gray-market trip if you are paying for passenger transport without a clear Part 135 operator of record.
Cost
How it affects cost
Wet leases are an operator-to-operator tool, not a retail product. If your invoice looks like a charter but the contract makes you the lessee or omits the Part 135 holder flying the trip, price is not the only risk on the table.
Example
A quick example
Related terms
Other terms to know
Common questions
Is a wet lease the same as charter?
Not for passengers. Part 135 on-demand charter should name the certificate holder operating your flight. Wet-lease structures are common between operators; paid passenger trips should still trace to Part 135 with clear operational control.
Should I sign a wet lease as a leisure traveler?
If you do not understand the structure, stop and ask who holds Part 135 authority and who employs the crew. Gray-market proposals often use lease language to avoid commercial charter rules.
Does wet lease affect insurance?
Insurance follows the operating structure. Verify the Part 135 operator on your contract and request a certificate of insurance if your organization requires it.
Guides that explain this
- Part 135 Charter Explained for BuyersWhat Part 135 means for charter buyers, how it differs from Part 91, and how to verify the operator before deposit.
- Charter Quote Red Flags: Read a Proposal Like an OperatorOperator and broker literacy for $15k–$80k trips: Part 135, ARGUS and Wyvern, FET, segment fees, repositioning, minimum hours, duty time, de-icing, airport pairs, category mistakes, and quote red flags.
- Broker vs Operator: Who Are You Actually Hiring?Charter broker vs Part 135 operator: who holds the certificate, who you pay, wire safety, substitution clauses, and what to verify before deposit.
- Private Jet Quote Checklist: What to Confirm Before You BookA practical checklist for reading a private charter quote: aircraft, all-in pricing, taxes, repositioning, airports, crew, weather, cancellation, international handling, and operator credentials.
Calculators that use this
Last reviewed May 2026. Estimates use planning assumptions that we revisit periodically.