Repositioning.
Repositioning is the movement of an aircraft, without paying passengers, from where its last flight ended to where its next flight begins. Operators reposition aircraft to serve one-way bookings, to return to base, and to reach maintenance. Repositioning sectors are the raw material of the empty leg market, since operators prefer partial revenue to none.
| Term | Repositioning |
|---|---|
| Used in | Private aviation, charter brokerage and operations |
| Related terms | Positioning flight, Empty leg, Deadhead |
| Sources | 2 listed below |
What does Repositioning mean in practice?
Repositioning is why the same route can cost very different amounts on different days.
If an operator already needs to move an aircraft from London to Geneva on Friday, a Friday London to Geneva request is cheap to serve. On another day the aircraft may need to be flown in from elsewhere and back again afterwards, and the price rises accordingly. Brokers spend much of their time managing this. They keep track of where aircraft will be and match customer requests to those movements. For customers with fixed dates, repositioning is a cost to negotiate. For customers with flexible dates, it is an opportunity. Ask a broker to search for empty legs and for aircraft already positioned near your departure point. Be aware that repositioning plans change, so a sector that looks free today may not be free tomorrow.
Questions
What does Repositioning mean?
Repositioning is the movement of an aircraft, without paying passengers, from where its last flight ended to where its next flight begins. Operators reposition aircraft to serve one-way bookings, to return to base, and to reach maintenance. Repositioning sectors are the raw material of the empty leg market, since operators prefer partial revenue to none.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Ferry flying (accessed 2026-09-20)
- Wikipedia: Empty leg (accessed 2026-09-20)
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.