Empty leg.
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.
| Term | Empty leg |
|---|---|
| Used in | Private aviation, charter brokerage and operations |
| Related terms | Dead leg, Positioning flight, One-way charter, Air charter broker |
| Sources | 2 listed below |
What does Empty leg mean in practice?
Empty legs exist because many charter bookings are one-way.
The aircraft flies a customer to their destination, then has to get home or to its next client. That return sector is the empty leg. Operators would rather earn something on it than nothing, so the price is often well below a standard one-way charter. The trade-off is flexibility. You fly the operator's route on the operator's date, and usually within a narrow departure window. If the original client changes plans or cancels, the empty leg can disappear at short notice. Some operators allow small route changes for a fee; many do not. Empty legs suit travellers who can adapt to the schedule and who have a fallback. As a broker, emptylegexclusive.com sources empty legs from licensed operators; it does not operate aircraft itself.
Questions
What does Empty leg mean?
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.
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 If that customer changes date or route, or cancels, the empty leg may be rescheduled or withdrawn.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.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Empty leg (accessed 2026-09-20)
- NBAA: Air Charter Brokers (accessed 2026-09-20)
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.