Successful air charter brokers today need to be able to provide a rapid on-demand response – both online and in person. Clients, who often want instant answers, also have access to a great deal of information on the internet and, if minded, can do a great deal of research themselves.

The charter broker's daily grind smooths the rough edges out of the lives of clients. Pál László of Air Connect Hungary says that the charter broker must relish the challenge of working between a rock and a hard place.

Air charter broker Ascent Jet has launched an e-commerce web site that enables clients to book flights direct by credit card. Carl deVerteuil, md, says: "I don't think this has been done before and it is a bit of an adventure. Clients can find an aircraft and book it online themselves or telephone and be talked through the online process."