Empty legs: How to Make the Most of Private Jet Empty Flights
Marketing repositioning flights makes it possible to take advantage of routes that aircraft must fly without passengers and opens up new possibilities for business travelers. So-called empty legs are gaining traction in executive aviation as a way to optimize available capacity and access this type of flight at a lower cost.
The business aviation industry is paying increasing attention to an aspect of its operations that has traditionally taken a back seat: repositioning flights or empty legs. These are flights that an aircraft must make without passengers to return to its base, position itself for a new service, or prepare for a subsequent operation.
When circumstances permit, these flights can be marketed, turning existing capacity into an additional opportunity for operators and passengers. The concept is not new, but its increased visibility and the digital tools for connecting supply and demand are driving its growth.
The model also introduces a different approach to a market traditionally associated with high fares. Travelers can access a private flight at a lower price than a conventional charter, but in exchange must adapt to a predefined itinerary in terms of route, schedule, or aircraft availability.
Flexibility in Exchange for Price
The main difference from the traditional charter is precisely this ability to adapt. On a specifically arranged flight, the customer determines the origin, destination, and schedule. On an empty leg, many of those variables are already set.
For this reason, the model is particularly well-suited for travelers with a certain degree of flexibility. According to data provided by JustFly Executive, requests for empty legs have increased by 30% in 2026 compared to 2025. The company also notes that part of the demand comes from people who had not previously used private aviation.
The price is one of the main attractions. According to the company, certain flights can be marketed with discounts of up to 75% off the usual cost of a charter. However, these rates depend on the specific circumstances of each operation and do not constitute a permanent offer.
An empty leg can disappear within a few hours if the flight that created it changes, the aircraft is booked for another service, or operating conditions are modified. Availability is, therefore, one of the main factors determining the model.
An opportunity for business travel
Beyond price, this model aligns with a broader trend in corporate travel: the search for alternatives that optimize travel time.
For certain business trips, the ability to use airports closer to the destination, reduce layovers, or better align travel schedules with meeting agendas can shift the balance between cost and productivity.
This factor helps explain the interest from the corporate sector. JustFly Executive reports that 70% of the flights it manages currently serve corporate clients and cites time savings, schedule flexibility, and direct connectivity as some of the main reasons for booking.
In this context, executive aviation seeks to reinforce arguments related to efficiency and productivity rather than its traditional association with luxury.
The challenge of matching a changing supply with demand
The development of empty legs depends, however, on a circumstance that is difficult to resolve: matching a highly dynamic supply with travelers willing to adapt to it.
Routes, schedules, aircraft type, number of passengers, and airports must all fit within a window of opportunity that can be very narrow. Hence the growing role of digital platforms and specialized intermediaries capable of quickly detecting and communicating these availability opportunities.
It is also important to exercise caution regarding their environmental impact. A marketed empty leg takes advantage of a repositioning flight that was already scheduled, but this does not automatically qualify it as a sustainable option. Any assessment of emissions would require analyzing the specific characteristics of each operation.