Deadhead.
A deadhead, in air charter, is a flight sector operated with no revenue passengers on board, typically to reposition the aircraft or crew. The term also describes crew members travelling as passengers to reach their next duty. Deadhead sectors are the source of the empty leg offers that brokers sell at a discount.
| Term | Deadhead |
|---|---|
| Used in | Private aviation, charter brokerage and operations |
| Related terms | Empty leg, Dead leg, Repositioning |
| Sources | 2 listed below |
What does Deadhead mean in practice?
Deadheading has two meanings and both matter to a charter customer.
The first is the aircraft itself flying empty. The second is crew being carried as passengers, often on an airline, to reach an aircraft parked away from base. Both are costs the operator carries and both are built into charter prices. When you are quoted a one-way charter, part of the price covers the aircraft returning empty. When you buy an empty leg, you are paying for a sector the operator already has to fly. Crew positioning also explains why some short-notice requests are expensive: if the available crew are far from the aircraft, they must deadhead in first. Ask your broker whether positioning is included in the quoted price and whether it is refundable if the trip is cancelled.
Questions
What does Deadhead mean?
A deadhead, in air charter, is a flight sector operated with no revenue passengers on board, typically to reposition the aircraft or crew. The term also describes crew members travelling as passengers to reach their next duty. Deadhead sectors are the source of the empty leg offers that brokers sell at a discount.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Deadheading (employee) (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Wikipedia: Empty leg (accessed 2026-09-20)
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.