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History

History

The Air Charter Association (historically known as “BACA”) is the successor to the Airbrokers’ Association, founded in 1949 by members of the Baltic Mercantile and Shipping Exchange. 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.

1948
1949
1976
1980s
1980s
1989
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2019

The Baltic Exchange formed an Air Freight Advisory Committee.

The Committee was reorganised as the Airbrokers Association, with 68 member companies.

Renamed Baltic Air Charter Association with widened membership criteria and new rules.

Lunches held in the Queen's Room (banqueting hall) at the Baltic Exchange.

An annual 'commercial services' award is presented, alternately to a passenger or cargo airline.

Jeremy Palmer (a Council member at the time) put forward the idea in August 1989 - a single award to the charter airline which had provided the best service to the brokers in the previous year.

The award was subsequently named The BACA Award, and first appeared at the lunch in the Queen's Room at the Baltic Exchange on 17 October 1990. A barometer and clock in a mahogany case was presented by Jeremy Palmer (by that time Council Chairman) to Trevor Coe of Monarch Airlines.

Original Baltic Exchange building destroyed by IRA bomb.

BACA lunches held at Trinity House, as the Baltic Exchange banqueting hall is destroyed.

Baltic Exchange moved to new premises at 38 St Mary Axe, also becoming BACA's new home.

Lunches still held at Trinity House, as the new Baltic Exchange has no banqueting hall.

Geraldine Malempre becoming BACA's first female Chair.

BACA successfully fights the requirement for all brokers to have ATOLs.

BACA lunches move to The Ironmongers Hall, Barbican.

BACA introduces a Mediation Service for its members.

BACA has 98 member companies and members make a special visit to Martinair, Amsterdam.

All BACA members are granted access to the Baltic Exchange, its restaurant and bar

BACA has 120 member companies and members make a special visit to the Airbus factory at Toulouse.

HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (BACA Honorary Member) attends the October lunch.

BACA introduces annual Excellence Awards with 5 industry categories.

Awards Lunches outgrow the Ironmongers Hall, and move to the Plaisterers Hall.

BACA starts to organise periodic industry training courses at the Baltic Exchange.

BACA's 60th Anniversary luncheon is held at Guildhall, London.

BACA has 150 member companies.

The BACA Escrow financial security service is launched for members.

A special membership category is introduced for retired members.

BACA has 200 member companies.

BACA endorses the ARGUS Charter Broker Programme, the only broker accreditation scheme fully endorsed by BACA.

BACA takes on its first employee.

BACA incorporates the association to a Company Limited by Guarantee, 'BACA - The Air Charter Association Ltd'

BACA takes on part time CEO to accommodate Association growth.

Council plans a rebrand and celebration of 70 years of air charter for 2019

BACA becomes The Air Charter Association with a full rebrand at 70th Birthday Party on 4th July

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