A single entity charter exists when an individual or company contracts and pays for the operation of an entire airplane (as opposed to one or two seats, or a group of seats, on an airplane). Individual passengers on single entity charters do not pay their own airfare. The individual or company that contracted for the operation of the airplane must bear the entire cost of travel and cannot sell individual seats on the aircraft. For example, when a business charters an entire aircraft to fly the executives to a meeting, the individual executives and employees do not pay for their individual seats on the aircraft.

In Virginia, as in other states, single entity charters are governed by federal regulations, as aviation is under the jurisdiction of federal law rather than state law. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sets forth regulations for charter flights, including those for single entity charters. According to these regulations, when an individual or company charters an entire aircraft, they are responsible for the full cost of the charter. They cannot sell individual seats to passengers, as this would change the nature of the operation and potentially subject it to different regulations, including those applicable to commercial airlines. The chartering entity must bear the entire cost of the flight, regardless of how many passengers are on board. This type of arrangement is often used for corporate travel, sports teams, or group travel where an organization prefers the privacy and convenience of having an entire aircraft. It's important for entities engaging in single entity charters to comply with FAA regulations to ensure safety and legality of the flight operations.