What the cost sharing rules require
A summary of the CAA's rules for private flights where passengers share the cost. The full text is in CAP 1590.
The rules at a glance
Passenger declarations
Every passenger signs a declaration before the flight, accepting that it does not meet commercial air transport safety standards.
Keep records for six months
Declarations must be kept for six months from the date of the flight.
Safety information
Passengers are told the flight does not meet commercial air transport safety standards.
Direct costs only
Only fuel, oil, airfield charges and aircraft hire at the market rate can be shared. Annual costs such as insurance and maintenance cannot.
Equal shares at most
No passenger pays more than an equal share, so the pilot always pays at least theirs and can choose to pay more.
Six people at most
No more than six on board, the pilot included, or four on a LAPL(A) or NPPL(A).
Private pilots only
A private individual operates the flight, the pilot is not employed or contracted to fly it, and nobody makes a profit.
The full rules are in CAP 1590.
What changed and when
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2021 to 2022: consultation
The CAA consulted the aviation community on proposed changes to the cost sharing rules.
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Early 2025: rules published
The updated Air Navigation Order was published with its guidance documents: CAP 1590, CAP 1590A and NCO.GEN.102.
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1 October 2025: rules came into force
Every cost sharing flight has had to follow the rules since this date.
Passenger declarations
Every passenger signs a declaration before the flight, acknowledging the recreational nature and risks. Declarations are kept for at least six months.
Advertising disclosures
Any advert for a cost sharing flight must include the pilot's licence, experience and aircraft details.
Group size and shares
No more than six people on board, the pilot included. Only direct costs are shared, equally, with no profit.
Cost sharing charter
The CAA recommends using platforms that have signed the UK Cost Sharing Charter.
Background
What's the story with UK cost sharing?
The UK's cost sharing rules have long been a source of confusion amongst recreational aviators. Some believed cost sharing flights were outright illegal, whilst others ran something close to a private charter company.
The UK's approach to cost sharing was historically outlined as:
- there can be no profit made from the flight;
- only direct costs can be shared amongst passengers; and
- the pilot must make a contribution towards those costs.
These rules were lenient enough to be followed as written, but not always in spirit.
Since October 2025, a new regulation has been in force for cost sharing flights within the UK. It sets the minimum share the PIC must pay, the declarations and records required from passengers, and the disclosures required when advertising a flight or taking passengers.
"One of the problems encountered when dealing with cost sharing flights is where pilots and passengers of Illegal Commercial Air Transport collude to present illegal flights as legal cost shared flights."
Further reading
- CAP 1590, the CAA's guidance on cost sharing flights
- The new regulation in force since October 2025
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