Empty leg flights to and from Istanbul.
Empty leg flights from Istanbul are discounted one-way private jet flights on aircraft repositioning out of İstanbul Airport, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport. They typically cost 25–75% less than a standard charter. From Istanbul, an empty leg to Milan on a light jet is estimated at €2,007–€9,424 ($2,300–$10,800), against €8,028–€12,565 ($9,200–$14,400) for a full charter.
| Airports | İstanbul Airport (IST), Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport (SAW) |
|---|---|
| Typical saving | 25–75% below standard charter |
| Routes with most empty legs | Milan, Zurich, Nice, Geneva, Paris |
| Empty legs on the board today | 0 |
| Market | Türkiye · prices in EUR (USD in brackets) |
Which airports do Istanbul empty legs use?
İstanbul Airport is the main private jet airport for Istanbul on this site, with 1 other airport in range.
| Airport | Codes | Longest runway | Distance to centre | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| İstanbul Airport | LTFM / IST | 4,100 m | 35 km | Airport with GA terminal |
| Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport | LTFJ / SAW | 3,540 m | 32 km | Airport with GA terminal |
Runway lengths and coordinates from OurAirports (OurAirports open data (public domain), 2026); straight-line distances to the city centre use Wikidata coordinates (Wikidata (CC0), 2026).
Where do empty legs from Istanbul usually go?
The corridors most likely to produce empty legs, judged by the size of the private jet market at each end, run from Istanbul to Milan, Zurich, Nice.
Estimates below use a light jet where it can fly the sector non-stop, otherwise the smallest category that can.
| Route | Distance | Block time | Empty leg (est.) | Charter (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul to Milan | 903 nm | 2h 38m | €2,007–€9,424 ($2,300–$10,800) | €8,028–€12,565 ($9,200–$14,400) |
| Istanbul to Zurich | 955 nm | 2h 46m | €2,094–€9,948 ($2,400–$11,400) | €8,464–€13,264 ($9,700–$15,200) |
| Istanbul to Nice | 973 nm | 2h 49m | €2,182–€10,122 ($2,500–$11,600) | €8,551–€13,525 ($9,800–$15,500) |
| Istanbul to Geneva | 1,035 nm | 2h 58m | €2,269–€10,733 ($2,600–$12,300) | €9,075–€14,311 ($10,400–$16,400) |
| Istanbul to Paris | 1,217 nm | 3h 27m | €2,618–€12,478 ($3,000–$14,300) | €10,558–€16,579 ($12,100–$19,000) |
| Istanbul to Ibiza | 1,268 nm | 3h 35m | €2,792–€12,914 ($3,200–$14,800) | €10,995–€17,190 ($12,600–$19,700) |
| Istanbul to London | 1,350 nm | 3h 48m | €2,880–€13,700 ($3,300–$15,700) | €11,606–€18,237 ($13,300–$20,900) |
| Istanbul to Mykonos | 273 nm | 0h 58m | €785–€3,578 ($900–$4,100) | €3,054–€4,799 ($3,500–$5,500) |
| Istanbul to Athens | 303 nm | 1h 03m | €785–€3,839 ($900–$4,400) | €3,229–€5,061 ($3,700–$5,800) |
| Istanbul to Naples | 667 nm | 2h 00m | €1,571–€7,243 ($1,800–$8,300) | €6,108–€9,599 ($7,000–$11,000) |
| Istanbul to Vienna | 689 nm | 2h 04m | €1,571–€7,417 ($1,800–$8,500) | €6,283–€9,860 ($7,200–$11,300) |
| Istanbul to Rome | 742 nm | 2h 12m | €1,658–€7,941 ($1,900–$9,100) | €6,719–€10,558 ($7,700–$12,100) |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
Which empty legs arrive into Istanbul?
The largest private jet markets with modelled routes into Istanbul are Milan, Zurich, Nice, so those are the likeliest origins of an inbound empty leg.
| Route | Distance | Block time | Empty leg (est.) | Charter (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milan to Istanbul | 903 nm | 2h 38m | €2,007–€9,424 ($2,300–$10,800) | €8,028–€12,565 ($9,200–$14,400) |
| Zurich to Istanbul | 955 nm | 2h 46m | €2,094–€9,948 ($2,400–$11,400) | €8,464–€13,264 ($9,700–$15,200) |
| Nice to Istanbul | 973 nm | 2h 49m | €2,182–€10,122 ($2,500–$11,600) | €8,551–€13,525 ($9,800–$15,500) |
| Geneva to Istanbul | 1,035 nm | 2h 58m | €2,269–€10,733 ($2,600–$12,300) | €9,075–€14,311 ($10,400–$16,400) |
| Paris to Istanbul | 1,217 nm | 3h 27m | €2,618–€12,478 ($3,000–$14,300) | €10,558–€16,579 ($12,100–$19,000) |
| Ibiza to Istanbul | 1,268 nm | 3h 35m | €2,792–€12,914 ($3,200–$14,800) | €10,995–€17,190 ($12,600–$19,700) |
| London to Istanbul | 1,350 nm | 3h 48m | €2,880–€13,700 ($3,300–$15,700) | €11,606–€18,237 ($13,300–$20,900) |
| Mykonos to Istanbul | 273 nm | 0h 58m | €785–€3,578 ($900–$4,100) | €3,054–€4,799 ($3,500–$5,500) |
| Athens to Istanbul | 303 nm | 1h 03m | €785–€3,839 ($900–$4,400) | €3,229–€5,061 ($3,700–$5,800) |
| Naples to Istanbul | 667 nm | 2h 00m | €1,571–€7,243 ($1,800–$8,300) | €6,108–€9,599 ($7,000–$11,000) |
| Vienna to Istanbul | 689 nm | 2h 04m | €1,571–€7,417 ($1,800–$8,500) | €6,283–€9,860 ($7,200–$11,300) |
| Rome to Istanbul | 742 nm | 2h 12m | €1,658–€7,941 ($1,900–$9,100) | €6,719–€10,558 ($7,700–$12,100) |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
How much does an empty leg from Istanbul cost?
A light jet empty leg from Istanbul is estimated at €785–€3,752 ($900–$4,300) for a short sector and €1,832–€8,551 ($2,100–$9,800) for a medium one.
The table models three sample distances: 300 nautical miles (about an hour in the air), 800 (about two hours) and 2,000 (five hours or more, beyond the range of the smallest categories).
| Aircraft category | 300 nm | 800 nm | 2,000 nm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turboprop | €611–€2,880 ($700–$3,300) | €1,483–€6,719 ($1,700–$7,700) | Out of range |
| Very light jet | €698–€2,705 ($800–$3,100) | €1,571–€6,195 ($1,800–$7,100) | Out of range |
| Light jet | €785–€3,752 ($900–$4,300) | €1,832–€8,551 ($2,100–$9,800) | Out of range |
| Midsize jet | €1,134–€5,236 ($1,300–$6,000) | €2,443–€11,518 ($2,800–$13,200) | €5,585–€26,876 ($6,400–$30,800) |
| Super-midsize jet | €1,658–€7,243 ($1,900–$8,300) | €3,403–€14,921 ($3,900–$17,100) | €7,853–€34,555 ($9,000–$39,600) |
| Heavy jet | €2,007–€9,860 ($2,300–$11,300) | €3,927–€19,546 ($4,500–$22,400) | €9,075–€45,201 ($10,400–$51,800) |
| Ultra-long-range jet | €3,054–€14,398 ($3,500–$16,500) | €5,846–€27,661 ($6,700–$31,700) | €13,525–€63,613 ($15,500–$72,900) |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
How do I book an empty leg from Istanbul?
Tell us your route and how flexible you are; we check the flights operators have released and confirm the one that fits.
- Send the route, dates you could travel and passenger numbers using the form below, or set up an alert.
- We check repositioning flights from licensed operators and price a standard charter for comparison.
- You choose. We confirm the flight with the operator and name the operating carrier and aircraft on the quote before you pay.
Questions about Istanbul empty legs
Which airports do empty legs from Istanbul use?
İstanbul Airport handle most business aviation in Istanbul; İstanbul Airport, Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen International Airport also have general aviation terminals. The operator chooses the airport the aircraft is already at.
How much does an empty leg from Istanbul cost?
On a light jet, estimates run from €785 for a short sector of about 300 nautical miles to €8,551 for one of about 800. These are model estimates, not quotes; listed flights show the operator’s price plus our fee.
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 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.
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.
Sources
- OurAirports open data (public domain), 2026-09-20 (accessed 2026-09-20). Airport codes, coordinates, elevation and runway lengths.
- Wikidata (CC0), 2026-09-20 (accessed 2026-09-20). City-centre coordinates used for airport-to-city distances.
- 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)
- 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.
- 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.
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