Search and Book Empty
Leg Flights
Also known as ‘deadhead flights’, empty legs are created when an aircraft is scheduled to fly from Point A to Point B with no passengers. Empty legs are utilized by on-demand charter clients when booking one-way flights or round-trip flights which span many days, requiring different aircraft for each leg for optimal pricing.
The market for empty legs is also utilized by jet card programs and on-demand charter brokers. Most jet card providers do not own aircraft, and thus source aircraft on the open market just like on-demand brokers.
Retail charter clients can utilize a variety of websites maintained by charter brokers, direct air carriers, and independent market aggregators to research empty legs.
Booking an empty leg does not always involve a 1:1 match of the actual empty leg routing. Empty legs are often booked by clients with similar routings paying additional costs for positioning fees.
Example: A ‘New York to Miami’ posted empty leg can be used for flights like New York to Orlando or DC to Palm Beach.
This ‘near-match’ type of booking utilizes an empty leg, costs less than a round-trip, but is priced higher than a direct match.
Empty leg prices vary based on routing, aircraft, and other details, like any other charter flight. But there are a few key components to be aware of when evaluating empty leg pricing.
In the event of a 1:1 match of a posted empty leg and your requested routing, the price should equal the hourly rate of the aircraft x flight time, plus taxes and fees.
Direct matches are hard to find outside of major market routes like Van Nuys to Teterboro, which have heavy traffic. More commonly, ‘near matches’ are sold to one-way buyers, who pay for added fees on one or both ends of the routing.
Example: Requested routing is Boston to Aspen. Closest matching empty leg is Boston to Salt Lake City. Client pays for the added cost to fly the plane from Aspen to Salt Lake City.
The quality of an empty leg price can be evaluated based on the hourly rate of the aircraft and the number of flight hours involved. The closer a price is to point-to-point value, the better it is.
When booking an empty leg flight, it is important to understand the retail hourly rate of the plane in question.
The market for empty legs behaves like any other, with supply and demand forces playing a role in pricing.
Peak season and high-volume routes drive the price of empty legs up because owners are confident buyers will emerge. Conversely, sub-optimal routes with low demand tend to yield better pricing.
The term ‘empty leg’ has a ‘discount’ connotation to most consumers which is largely unsubstantiated in the market.
Every minute a plane flies costs its owner money, and fixed expenses like crew, handling, fuel, and maintenance all contribute to the Direct Operating Cost (DOC) of every flight.
Owners seek to recoup their DOC plus make additional revenue when they advertise an empty leg. Aircraft in the charter market exist to generate revenue not only for the owner, but for the Part 135 managers handling operations.
As departure grows near, prices typically drop for true empty legs. But in a saturated market and especially for peak season and high-volume routes, the instances of below-market empty leg bookings are rare.
The term ‘empty leg’ has a ‘discount’ connotation to most consumers which is largely unsubstantiated in the market.
Every minute a plane flies costs its owner money, and fixed expenses like crew, handling, fuel, and maintenance all contribute to the Direct Operating Cost (DOC) of every flight.
Owners seek to recoup their DOC plus make additional revenue when they advertise an empty leg. Aircraft in the charter market exist to generate revenue not only for the owner, but for the Part 135 managers handling operations.
As departure grows near, prices typically drop for true empty legs. But in a saturated market and especially for peak season and high-volume routes, the instances of below-market empty leg bookings are rare.
The aircraft and its cabin are identical to a full-price charter — empty leg status doesn’t change the jet’s configuration, seat count, or crew standards. However, because many empty legs are confirmed on short notice, there is less time to arrange bespoke catering. Standard provisioning is typically available, but clients who want specific meal or beverage arrangements should communicate those needs at the time of booking rather than assuming they’ll be accommodated automatically.
Yes. Jetvia’s aviation advisors can set preferences for your commonly traveled routes so you’re contacted when a matching or near-matching empty leg becomes available. Because most empty legs are posted within 24 to 72 hours of departure, the clients who benefit most are those who have communicated their travel flexibility and preferred corridors to an advisor in advance rather than checking listings reactively.
Yes. The Learjet 60 in Jetvia’s fleet is available as an empty leg when it is repositioning between client trips. The Learjet 60 seats up to seven passengers in a mid-size cabin and is one of the most capable aircraft on shorter to medium routes, covering distances like Dallas to Houston or Las Vegas to Los Angeles in under an hour. When a Learjet 60 appears as an empty leg on a route matching your travel plans, it represents one of the better values in private aviation.
Empty legs carry a discount connotation that doesn’t always reflect market reality. Operators still need to cover Direct Operating Costs — crew, fuel, handling, and maintenance — for every hour the aircraft flies. On high-demand routes and during peak travel seasons, supply of available empty legs is limited while buyer demand is high, which pushes prices toward full charter rates. The best pricing typically appears on low-demand routing combinations and within 24 to 48 hours of departure when operators accept reduced margin to avoid flying completely empty.
A near-match empty leg is when the operator’s repositioning route partially overlaps with your intended route, but not perfectly. For instance, a New York to Miami empty leg could serve a New York to Fort Lauderdale trip with a small positioning surcharge. Near-matches are worth booking when the routing overlap is high and the positioning costs are modest. They generally cost more than a direct-match empty leg but substantially less than a full charter booking for a comparable route.
| A positioning fee is the additional cost charged when your requested routing doesn’t exactly match the posted empty leg. For example, if an aircraft is repositioning from Houston to Dallas and you want to fly Dallas to Austin, the operator charges you for the extra flight time to reach your destination or depart from your origin. The further your routing deviates from the listed empty leg, the higher the positioning cost. Understanding this distinction is the most important factor when evaluating whether an advertised empty leg actually represents good value. |
Before booking, it’s important to understand that empty legs may change or be canceled if the original charter itinerary changes. Travelers who remain flexible tend to benefit most, especially when pursuing cheap empty leg flights on popular routes, including empty leg flights from Orlando.
Yes. An empty leg private jet offers the same cabin, crew, and service standards as a full-price charter. The aircraft offers the same amenities, comfort, and privacy, despite the lower cost associated with repositioning logistics.
Anyone can book empty leg flights, provided their schedule aligns with the listed route and timing. These flights are not limited to members or frequent flyers, which makes them an appealing entry point into private aviation for flexible travelers.
Most empty leg flights are published a few days in advance, though some appear within hours of departure. Timing depends on when a charter is confirmed or adjusted, which is why routes such as empty leg flights in Miami often appear on short notice. This limited lead time is one of the factors that differentiate dead leg flights from standard charter bookings.
Yes. Empty-leg flights from New York, Miami, and Orlando are common due to high private aviation traffic in these markets. Availability changes quickly, so monitoring routes frequently improves your chances of finding a suitable option.
Destinations on empty legs are fixed based on the aircraft’s repositioning route. Travelers cannot customize the departure or arrival cities, which is why flexibility matters when searching for cheap empty-leg flights. When the route aligns with your plans, the value can be significant. When the route aligns with your plans, the value can be significant, and travelers can also explore Jetvia’s jet charter services for fully customizable private flight options when specific cities or schedules are required.
In most cases, yes. Empty leg flights are typically offered at reduced rates because the aircraft is already scheduled to fly without passengers. Since the operator aims to offset repositioning costs, these trips are often priced lower than traditional charter flights, making them one of the most accessible ways to experience an empty-leg private jet.
In private aviation, dead leg flights and empty leg flights generally refer to the same situation: a private jet flying without passengers because it needs to reposition to pick up its next trip or return to base after a one-way charter. Both terms refer to unused flight segments that become available at discounted prices. The wording varies, but in practice, they describe the same concept in the charter world.
Finding empty leg flights often starts with checking listings from private charter providers and industry platforms that post available routes. You can browse these offers online, subscribe to alerts, or work with a charter advisor who can notify you when empty leg private jet opportunities match your travel plans. Some operators update their available empty legs frequently, allowing travelers to spot aircraft options such as the Learjet 60 and secure routes that align with their schedule when they book empty leg flights.
Yes, Jetvia offers last-minute flight deals through our empty leg flights. These are flights that occur when an aircraft is repositioning, and they’re available at a significant discount. If your schedule is flexible, this can be a great way to experience private jet travel at a reduced cost.
Thank you for submitting a form.