Empty leg statistics.
Empty leg flights are discounted 25–75% below the standard charter price for the same route and aircraft, and industry estimates put the share of private jet flights flown without passengers at roughly 30–40%, although no audited figure exists. Empty Leg Exclusive lists 31 operator-published empty legs today, with priced listings averaging 80% below the operators’ own charter prices.
| Empty leg discount | 25–75% below the standard charter price for the same route and aircraft (Business Travel Executive, 2023) |
|---|---|
| Share of private jet flights flown empty | Estimated at roughly 30–40%; XO has estimated 30–50% of the charter fleet often flies empty, Stratos Jets “nearly 30%”, Instacharter “up to 40%”. No audited figure exists. (Business Travel Executive, 2023) (Stratos Jets, 2024) (Instacharter, 2026) |
| Notice period | Most legs appear days ahead; some are published only a day in advance (Stratos Jets, 2024) |
| Cancellation rate | No audited industry figure is published. Figures such as “20–30%” circulate without a primary source and are not repeated here. (Business Travel Executive, 2023) |
| Empty legs on Empty Leg Exclusive today | 31, from operator-published availability (GlobeAir, Jetfly) (GlobeAir empty leg calendar (operator-published), 2026) (Jetfly empty legs (operator-published), 2026) |
| Average saving on priced listings today | 80% against the operators’ own full-charter prices (8 listings) (GlobeAir empty leg calendar (operator-published), 2026) |
What do the numbers say about empty legs?
Discounts are large and consistent across sources; supply is structural; cancellation risk is real but unmeasured.
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Empty leg discount | 25–75% below the standard charter price for the same route and aircraft | Business Travel Executive (2023-02-02) |
| Share of private jet flights flown empty | Estimated at roughly 30–40%; XO has estimated 30–50% of the charter fleet often flies empty, Stratos Jets “nearly 30%”, Instacharter “up to 40%”. No audited figure exists. | Business Travel Executive (2023-02-02); Stratos Jets (2024-05-07); Instacharter (2026-05-26) |
| Notice period | Most legs appear days ahead; some are published only a day in advance | Stratos Jets (2024-05-07) |
| Cancellation rate | No audited industry figure is published. Figures such as “20–30%” circulate without a primary source and are not repeated here. | Business Travel Executive (2023-02-02) |
| Empty legs on Empty Leg Exclusive today | 31, from operator-published availability (GlobeAir, Jetfly) | GlobeAir empty leg calendar (operator-published) (2026-09-20); Jetfly empty legs (operator-published) (2026-09-20) |
| Average saving on priced listings today | 80% against the operators’ own full-charter prices (8 listings) | GlobeAir empty leg calendar (operator-published) (2026-09-20) |
How do I cite this page?
Quote the figure with its original source and link to this page for the compilation.
Empty Leg Exclusive (2026). Empty leg statistics. https://emptylegexclusive.com/empty-leg-statistics/. Accessed [date].
Each statistic is from a named third-party source; please credit that source for the figure and this page for the compilation.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
How were these statistics selected?
Each figure is quoted from a named source with a date and a link. Where sources disagree, the range is shown and the disagreement is stated. Figures that circulate without a primary source, such as an industry cancellation rate, are flagged as unverified rather than repeated.
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.
- GlobeAir empty leg calendar (operator-published), 2026-09-20 (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Jetfly empty legs (operator-published), 2026-09-20 (accessed 2026-09-20)
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.
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