Empty leg flights

Questions about empty legs

What is an empty leg flight?

An empty leg is a repositioning flight the operator has to fly anyway with no passengers aboard — typically returning home after dropping off a charter, or flying out to collect one. Because the aircraft is moving regardless, the seat is sold at a discount to full charter.

How much cheaper is an empty leg?

Discounts are commonly quoted at 25 to 75 percent against the same trip booked as a full charter. The saving is real, but it only applies if the operator already needed to fly that exact route on that exact date.

What is the catch with empty legs?

You take the operator’s route, date and aircraft, with little flexibility on timing. More importantly, an empty leg exists only because of the charter that created it — if that booking moves or cancels, your flight can move or cancel with it, sometimes at short notice.

Can I change the departure time on an empty leg?

Rarely, and only by a short margin. The aircraft has to be where the operator needs it next. If your timing is fixed, a standard charter is usually the safer choice even though it costs more.