Empty leg flights.
An empty leg flight is a private jet flight with no passengers booked on it, flown to reposition the aircraft, either back to base after a one-way charter or onward to collect its next client. Because the aircraft must make the journey anyway, operators sell it at a discount, typically 25–75% below the standard charter price for the same route.
| Typical saving | 25–75% below standard charter |
|---|---|
| What you book | The whole aircraft, one way |
| Schedule | Fixed by the operator |
| Notice | Usually days, not weeks |
| Main risk | A change to the original booking can move or cancel the flight |
| Best for | Flexible leisure trips and one-way journeys |
| Not for | Weddings, meetings, onward connections |
How do empty leg flights work?
Private jets do not fly timetables, so every one-way charter leaves an aircraft somewhere it does not need to be.
When a client books a one-way charter from London to Nice, the aircraft still has to return to London or fly on to its next client. That positioning flight is already covered by the original booking, so anything the operator earns from it is a bonus. That is why the discount is steep. Industry estimates put the share of private jet flights flown without passengers at roughly 30–40% (Business Travel Executive, 2023) (Stratos Jets, 2024) (Instacharter, 2026), so supply is structural rather than promotional. The terms “dead leg”, “empty sector”, “deadhead” and “ferry flight” all describe the same positioning flight; “ferry flight” is also used for positioning flights that are not offered for sale.
- You book the whole aircraft, one way.
- The schedule is set by the operator.
- If the original booking changes, the empty leg can change too.
How much does an empty leg flight cost?
Price depends on the aircraft and the length of the flight, not on how many people travel.
The table applies published hourly-rate bands (Paramount Business Jets, 2026) (Amalfi Jets, 2026) (Jetvice, 2026) to three sample block times and models empty legs at 25–75% below the standard one-way estimate. Listed flights on the board show the operator’s actual price plus our booking fee instead.
| Aircraft category | 1 hour | 2.5 hours | 5 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | $2,000–$3,100 $500–$2,300 | $5,000–$7,800 $1,300–$5,900 | $10,000–$15,500 $2,500–$11,600 |
| Very light jet | $2,700–$3,500 $700–$2,600 | $6,800–$8,800 $1,700–$6,600 | Beyond range |
| Light jet | $3,500–$5,500 $900–$4,100 | $8,800–$13,800 $2,200–$10,400 | Beyond range |
| Midsize jet | $5,000–$8,000 $1,300–$6,000 | $12,500–$20,000 $3,100–$15,000 | $25,000–$40,000 $6,300–$30,000 |
| Super-midsize jet | $7,500–$11,000 $1,900–$8,300 | $18,800–$27,500 $4,700–$20,600 | $37,500–$55,000 $9,400–$41,300 |
| Heavy jet | $9,000–$15,000 $2,300–$11,300 | $22,500–$37,500 $5,600–$28,100 | $45,000–$75,000 $11,300–$56,300 |
| Ultra-long-range jet | $14,000–$22,000 $3,500–$16,500 | $35,000–$55,000 $8,800–$41,300 | $70,000–$110,000 $17,500–$82,500 |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
Sterling and euro figures for the same sectors are on the cost guide.
Where do empty legs come from?
Empty legs follow the traffic.
Friday departures from London, Paris and Geneva to the Mediterranean create empty returns that evening and on Saturday. Sunday returns create empty outbound flights on Sunday morning. The same pattern runs between the US Northeast and Florida, Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and into Aspen and other ski airports in winter.
What are the downsides of empty leg flights?
The schedule is not yours.
Date, time and airports are set by the aircraft’s next commitment. The flight can change or be withdrawn if the original customer changes plans, sometimes at short notice. It is one way only. The aircraft may be larger or smaller than you need. And it is still a private jet: a 75% discount on a heavy jet is a five-figure sum. Always hold a fallback: a refundable airline ticket or a standard charter quote.
| Empty leg | Standard charter | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | 25–75% lower | Full rate |
| Schedule | Fixed by the operator | You choose |
| Route | Fixed, small changes sometimes possible | Any suitable airports |
| Notice | Usually days ahead | Hours to months ahead |
| Risk of change | Higher: depends on another booking | Low |
| Best for | Flexible leisure trips, one-way journeys | Fixed plans, events, business |
Who should book an empty leg, and who should not?
Flexible travellers with one-way needs gain the most; anyone with a fixed appointment should charter instead.
Book an empty leg if
- Your dates can move by a day or two.
- You are travelling one way, or can pair it with an airline or charter return.
- You are a group: the price is for the whole aircraft.
- You can decide quickly, because most legs are published days ahead.
Charter instead if
- You must be somewhere at a fixed time: a wedding, a meeting, a cruise departure.
- You need a specific aircraft or cabin layout.
- You are connecting to another flight.
- You cannot absorb a late change of plan.
How do I book an empty leg with Empty Leg Exclusive?
Four steps, usually completed the same day.
- Enquiry and flexibility. Send the route, the dates you could travel and passenger numbers.
- Confirmation. We confirm the leg with the operator and name the operating carrier and aircraft on the quote.
- Agreement and payment. You sign the charter agreement and pay.
- Flight brief. Passenger details and ID go to the operator and you receive the terminal, handling agent and crew contact.
How do empty leg alerts work?
Tell us the routes and rough dates you care about and we message you when a matching flight is released.
Most empty legs are sold before they are listed anywhere public, so an alert puts you at the front of the queue. There is no fee and you can stop with one reply. Set up alerts.
Which empty legs are available now?
31 empty legs are on the board today, refreshed weekly from operators’ published availability.
-
Very light jetSave 82%
ZurichDortmund
Zurich (ZRH / LSZH) to Dortmund (DTM)
- Departs
- Mon 21 Sept, 05:40
- Aircraft
- Cessna Citation Mustang
- Seats
- Up to 4
- Flexibility
- Fixed
Whole aircraft from£1,220 -
Very light jetSave 82%
MunichParis
Munich (MUC / EDDM) to Paris Le Bourget (LBG / LFPB)
- Departs
- Mon 21 Sept, 06:55
- Aircraft
- Cessna Citation Mustang
- Seats
- Up to 4
- Flexibility
- Fixed
Whole aircraft from£1,220 -
TurbopropWhole aircraft
LausanneCagliari
Lausanne Airport (LSGL) to Cagliari Elmas (LIEE)
- Departs
- Mon 21 Sept, 08:00
- Aircraft
- Pilatus PC-12
- Seats
- Up to 6
- Flexibility
- Confirm with operator
Whole aircraftPrice on request -
TurbopropWhole aircraft
LavalGray
Laval Entrammes (LFOV) to Gray Saint Adrien (LFEV)
- Departs
- Mon 21 Sept, 08:30
- Aircraft
- Pilatus PC-12
- Seats
- Up to 6
- Flexibility
- Confirm with operator
Whole aircraftPrice on request -
Light jetWhole aircraft
MilanGeneva
Milan Linate (LIN / LIML) to Geneva (GVA / LSGG)
- Departs
- Mon 21 Sept, 09:30
- Aircraft
- Pilatus PC-24
- Seats
- Up to 8
- Flexibility
- Confirm with operator
Whole aircraftPrice on request -
Very light jetSave 73%
GenevaParis
Geneva (GVA / LSGG) to Paris Le Bourget (LBG / LFPB)
- Departs
- Mon 21 Sept, 09:35
- Aircraft
- Cessna Citation Mustang
- Seats
- Up to 4
- Flexibility
- Fixed
Whole aircraft from£1,220
Listings come from the operators and change daily. Prices are the total for the whole aircraft in GBP, including our booking fee, and are confirmed with the operator before you pay. A flight is booked only once the operator has accepted it. How it works.
Frequently asked questions
What is an empty leg flight?
An empty leg flight is a private jet flight with no passengers booked on it, flown to reposition the aircraft, either back to base after a one-way charter or onward to collect its next client. Because the aircraft must make the journey anyway, operators sell it at a discount, typically 25–75% below the standard charter price for the same route.
Why are empty leg flights so cheap?
Because the flight happens regardless. The original charter customer has already paid for the aircraft to reposition, so any revenue from the empty sector is extra for the operator.
How much can you save with an empty leg?
Typically 25–75% against the standard one-way charter price for the same aircraft and route. The largest discounts appear close to departure on routes with little demand. Popular routes at peak times are discounted less.
Do you pay per seat or for the whole aircraft?
Almost always the whole aircraft. An empty leg on an eight-seat jet costs the same for one passenger or eight, which is why empty legs work best for groups. A few operators and apps sell single seats on selected flights; where that applies, the listing says so.
Can an empty leg flight be cancelled?
Yes. An empty leg exists only because of another customer’s booking. If that customer changes date or route, or cancels, the empty leg may be rescheduled or withdrawn. Refund terms are set out in your charter agreement, and consequential costs such as hotels or replacement flights are not normally covered. Check the terms before you pay. No audited industry cancellation rate is published.
How far in advance are empty legs available?
Most appear between a few days and about two weeks before departure, because they depend on other bookings being confirmed. Some are published 24–48 hours ahead.
Can I change the time or airport of an empty leg?
Sometimes, within limits. An operator may move a departure by a few hours or use a nearby airport if the aircraft can still meet its next commitment. Larger changes turn the flight into a standard charter at a higher price.
Are empty leg flights safe?
Yes. They are flown by the same licensed operators, crews and aircraft as full-price charters, under the same regulations: FAA Part 135 in the United States and an Air Operator Certificate in the UK and EU. The discount reflects scheduling, not standards.
Are empty legs always one way?
Yes, by definition. Many travellers pair an empty leg in one direction with an airline ticket or standard charter in the other.
What is the difference between an empty leg, a dead leg, a deadhead and a ferry flight?
For a traveller they mean the same thing: a positioning flight with no passengers. “Ferry flight” is also used for positioning flights that are not offered for sale.
What happens if no empty leg matches my route?
We quote a standard charter so you can compare, and set an alert so you hear as soon as a matching empty leg is published.
Where are empty legs listed?
On operators’ own sites, broker sites, apps and aggregators. Lists differ because many empty legs are shared only inside trade marketplaces that brokers and operators use.
Sources
- Business Travel Executive, "Empty Legs, Empty Promises?", 2023-02-02 (accessed 2026-09-20). XO estimate that 30–50% of the charter fleet often flies empty; Victor on savings of up to 75%; Chapman Freeborn on change and cancellation risk.
- Stratos Jets, "Empty-leg Flights: The No. 1 Risk and How to Save Money", 2024-05-07 (accessed 2026-09-20). Estimate that nearly 30% of private flights are empty; savings of up to 75%; some legs published only a day ahead.
- Instacharter, "1 in 3 Private Jet Return Legs Go Empty", 2026-05-26 (accessed 2026-09-20). Industry estimate of up to 40% of flights operating as empty return legs; no primary source named.
- Paramount Business Jets, "Private Jet Rental | Jet Cost & Hourly Rates (2026)", 2026-08 (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Amalfi Jets, "Private Jet Cost Per Hour 2026: Rates by Jet Type", 2026-06-15 (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Jetvice, "Private Jet Charter Hourly Rates 2026", 2026-09-01 (accessed 2026-09-20)
- European Central Bank euro foreign exchange reference rates (via frankfurter.dev), 2026-09-18 (accessed 2026-09-20). Rates used for USD, EUR and GBP conversions.
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.
Your next flight. Let’s find it.
Tell us where you want to go and when. We will check the empty legs that fit and reply the same day.
- Licensed operators only
- Same-day replies
- Whole-aircraft pricing, no seat fees