Empty leg flights to and from Los Angeles.
Empty leg flights from Los Angeles are discounted one-way private jet flights on aircraft repositioning out of Van Nuys Airport, Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport, Los Angeles International Airport. They typically cost 25–75% less than a standard charter. From Los Angeles, an empty leg to Miami on a midsize jet is estimated at $6,500–$31,200, against $26,000–$41,600 for a full charter.
| Airports | Van Nuys Airport (VNY), Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport (BUR), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) |
|---|---|
| Typical saving | 25–75% below standard charter |
| Routes with most empty legs | Miami, New York, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Aspen |
| Empty legs on the board today | 0 |
| Market | United States · prices in USD |
Which airports do Los Angeles empty legs use?
Van Nuys Airport is the main private jet airport for Los Angeles on this site, with 2 other airports in range.
| Airport | Codes | Longest runway | Distance to centre | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Van Nuys Airport | KVNY / VNY | 2,439 m | 29 km | Business aviation terminal |
| Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport | KBUR / BUR | 2,099 m | 20 km | Airport with GA terminal |
| Los Angeles International Airport | KLAX / LAX | 3,930 m | 19 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 Los Angeles usually go?
The corridors most likely to produce empty legs, judged by the size of the private jet market at each end, run from Los Angeles to Miami, New York, Las Vegas.
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.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles to Miami | 2,029 nm | 5h 12m | $6,500–$31,200 | $26,000–$41,600 |
| Los Angeles to New York | 2,125 nm | 5h 26m | $6,800–$32,600 | $27,200–$43,500 |
| Los Angeles to Las Vegas | 198 nm | 0h 46m | $900–$4,100 | $3,500–$5,500 |
| Los Angeles to San Francisco | 302 nm | 1h 03m | $900–$4,300 | $3,700–$5,700 |
| Los Angeles to Aspen | 630 nm | 1h 55m | $1,700–$7,900 | $6,700–$10,500 |
| Los Angeles to Dallas | 1,075 nm | 3h 05m | $2,700–$12,700 | $10,800–$16,900 |
| Los Angeles to Chicago | 1,514 nm | 4h 14m | $3,700–$17,500 | $14,800–$23,300 |
| Los Angeles to Toronto | 1,887 nm | 4h 51m | $6,100–$29,100 | $24,300–$38,800 |
| Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. | 1,994 nm | 5h 07m | $6,400–$30,700 | $25,600–$40,900 |
| Los Angeles to Montreal | 2,141 nm | 5h 28m | $6,900–$32,900 | $27,400–$43,800 |
| Los Angeles to Boston | 2,251 nm | 5h 44m | $7,200–$34,400 | $28,700–$45,900 |
| Los Angeles to London | 4,728 nm | 10h 32m | $23,700–$118,400 | $94,700–$157,900 |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
Which empty legs arrive into Los Angeles?
The largest private jet markets with modelled routes into Los Angeles are Miami, New York, Las Vegas, so those are the likeliest origins of an inbound empty leg.
| Route | Distance | Block time | Empty leg (est.) | Charter (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miami to Los Angeles | 2,029 nm | 5h 12m | $6,500–$31,200 | $26,000–$41,600 |
| New York to Los Angeles | 2,125 nm | 5h 26m | $6,800–$32,600 | $27,200–$43,500 |
| Las Vegas to Los Angeles | 198 nm | 0h 46m | $900–$4,100 | $3,500–$5,500 |
| San Francisco to Los Angeles | 302 nm | 1h 03m | $900–$4,300 | $3,700–$5,700 |
| Aspen to Los Angeles | 630 nm | 1h 55m | $1,700–$7,900 | $6,700–$10,500 |
| Dallas to Los Angeles | 1,075 nm | 3h 05m | $2,700–$12,700 | $10,800–$16,900 |
| Chicago to Los Angeles | 1,514 nm | 4h 14m | $3,700–$17,500 | $14,800–$23,300 |
| Toronto to Los Angeles | 1,887 nm | 4h 51m | $6,100–$29,100 | $24,300–$38,800 |
| Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles | 1,994 nm | 5h 07m | $6,400–$30,700 | $25,600–$40,900 |
| Montreal to Los Angeles | 2,141 nm | 5h 28m | $6,900–$32,900 | $27,400–$43,800 |
| Boston to Los Angeles | 2,251 nm | 5h 44m | $7,200–$34,400 | $28,700–$45,900 |
| London to Los Angeles | 4,728 nm | 10h 32m | $23,700–$118,400 | $94,700–$157,900 |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
When are Los Angeles empty legs most common?
Los Angeles empty legs are concentrated on the short corridors to Las Vegas, San Francisco and Aspen, where Van Nuys-based aircraft reposition several times a week.
Van Nuys (KVNY) is the business aviation airport for Los Angeles, about 29 km from downtown in a straight line; Burbank (KBUR) and Los Angeles International (KLAX) have general aviation handling for larger aircraft.
Las Vegas is the busiest corridor and produces empty legs around every major event and weekend. San Francisco and Silicon Valley business traffic keeps light and midsize jets moving on weekdays; Aspen and the Colorado ski airports are a winter corridor; New York is the main transcontinental route for heavy and ultra-long-range jets.
Prices are quoted in US dollars. Light jets are typical on the short sectors; the transcontinental route to New York sees the largest cabins.
How much does an empty leg from Los Angeles cost?
A light jet empty leg from Los Angeles is estimated at $900–$4,300 for a short sector and $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 | $700–$3,300 | $1,700–$7,700 | Out of range |
| Very light jet | $800–$3,100 | $1,800–$7,100 | Out of range |
| Light jet | $900–$4,300 | $2,100–$9,800 | Out of range |
| Midsize jet | $1,300–$6,000 | $2,800–$13,200 | $6,400–$30,800 |
| Super-midsize jet | $1,900–$8,300 | $3,900–$17,100 | $9,000–$39,600 |
| Heavy jet | $2,300–$11,300 | $4,500–$22,400 | $10,400–$51,800 |
| Ultra-long-range jet | $3,500–$16,500 | $6,700–$31,700 | $15,500–$72,900 |
Model estimate, not a quote. See how we calculate prices.
How do I book an empty leg from Los Angeles?
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 Los Angeles empty legs
Which airports do empty legs from Los Angeles use?
Van Nuys Airport handle most business aviation in Los Angeles; Hollywood Burbank/Bob Hope Airport, Los Angeles International Airport also have general aviation terminals. The operator chooses the airport the aircraft is already at.
How much does an empty leg from Los Angeles cost?
On a light jet, estimates run from $900 for a short sector of about 300 nautical miles to $9,800 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.
Flying from Los Angeles? Tell us when.
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