Who operates your flight.
Empty Leg Exclusive is an air charter broker, not an aircraft operator or direct air carrier. Empty Leg Exclusive arranges flights on behalf of its clients with independently certified operators, such as FAA Part 135 certificate holders and UK or EU Air Operator Certificate holders, who keep full operational control of every flight. The operating carrier is named on every quote.
| Page | Who operates your flight |
|---|---|
| Applies to | Every page and every flight arranged by Empty Leg Exclusive |
| Sections | What a broker does, What the operator does, Why this matters |
| Last updated | 2026-09-20 |
What a broker does
Finds, prices and contracts the flight on your behalf.
Empty Leg Exclusive is a global private jet hire service specialising in empty leg flights: discounted one-way private jet flights created when aircraft reposition between bookings. We source empty legs and charter availability from licensed operators, negotiate the price, issue the charter agreement and handle the booking. We act for you, not for the operator.
What the operator does
Everything to do with flying.
The operator owns or leases the aircraft, employs and trains the crew, maintains the aircraft, holds the certificate and the insurance, and has operational control of the flight. Decisions about weather, fuel, alternates and delays are the operator’s and the captain’s.
Why this matters
Your contract, your refund and your safety all rest on the operator being named and certified.
An unnamed operator cannot be checked. A named one can be verified against the FAA, UK CAA or national authority lists in minutes. That is why the operator appears on every quote and in every charter agreement.
Frequently asked questions
Does Empty Leg Exclusive operate the aircraft?
No. Empty Leg Exclusive is a charter broker. We act for you, not for the operator, and every quote names the certified operator that will fly you. Empty Leg Exclusive is an air charter broker, not an aircraft operator or direct air carrier. Empty Leg Exclusive arranges flights on behalf of its clients with independently certified operators, such as FAA Part 135 certificate holders and UK or EU Air Operator Certificate holders, who keep full operational control of every flight. The operating carrier is named on every quote.
Are empty leg flights safe?
Yes. They are flown by the same licensed operators, crews and aircraft as full-price charters, under the same regulations: FAA Part 135 in the United States and an Air Operator Certificate in the UK and EU. The discount reflects scheduling, not standards.
What documents do I need?
A passport for international flights and government photo ID for domestic flights. Visa rules are the same as for airline travel.
Sources
- Federal Aviation Administration, 14 CFR Part 135, 2026 (accessed 2026-09-20). US operating rules for commuter and on-demand operations.
- UK Civil Aviation Authority, Air Operator Certificates, 2026 (accessed 2026-09-20). UK requirement for commercial air transport operators.
- European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Air Operations, 2026 (accessed 2026-09-20). EU air operations regulation (Regulation (EU) 965/2012).
Last reviewed 20 September 2026 by Empty Leg Exclusive Editorial Team.
Your next flight. Let’s find it.
Tell us where you want to go and when. We will check the empty legs that fit and reply the same day.
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- Same-day replies
- Whole-aircraft pricing, no seat fees