- What it is
- A repositioning flight with no passengers booked
- Typical saving
- Brokers commonly advertise savings of up to 75 per cent; actual discounts vary
- Main trade-off
- Fixed route and timing set by the original charter
- Main risk
- Can be cancelled or changed if the original charter changes
Last reviewed
What an empty leg is
An empty leg, also called an empty sector or one-way repositioning flight, is a flight an aircraft has to make without passengers. The most common case is a one-way charter: an aircraft flies a client from London to Nice, then has to return to base, or fly to its next job, with no one on board. The same happens in reverse when an aircraft has to fly out to collect a client somewhere else.
The operator has to fly that sector anyway, and the original client has usually paid for it as part of their trip. Any revenue from selling the empty sector is better than none, which is why it can be offered at a discount.
Why empty legs exist
Private aircraft rarely finish one job exactly where the next one starts. They fly back to base for maintenance and crew changes, and they position to wherever the next client is. Every one-way charter and every positioning flight creates a potential empty leg. Busy seasonal routes, such as flights to the Mediterranean in summer or to ski destinations in winter, create a steady flow of them, often in the opposite direction to the main demand.
How much can you save
Charter brokers commonly advertise empty leg savings of up to 75 per cent off the usual charter price, and some describe a range of 50 to 75 per cent. These are marketing figures, not independent data, and "up to" means the best case: many empty legs are discounted by less, and some are sold close to the normal one-way price. The actual price depends on the operator, how close the departure is, and whether the empty leg needs any extra positioning to suit your airports. The fairest comparison is the empty leg price against a standard one-way quote on a similar aircraft for the same day.
The trade-offs
The discount comes with conditions, and it is worth understanding them before you rely on an empty leg for an important trip.
- Fixed schedule: the route and timing are set by the original charter. You fit around it, not the other way round.
- Cancellation risk: if the original charter is cancelled or changed, the empty leg can be withdrawn or retimed, sometimes at short notice.
- Price can change: if the original trip changes, the empty leg may be re-priced.
- Limited flexibility on the day: there is often less room to delay departure if you are running late.
- Usually one-way: you will need a separate plan for the return.
- Catering and extras: catering may be limited unless arranged in advance.
Empty leg or standard charter
The right choice depends on how much the timing matters.
| Factor | Empty leg | Standard charter |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Often below a standard charter, by varying amounts | Full price for the trip |
| Route and timing | Set by the original charter | Set by you |
| Certainty | Can be cancelled or changed | Confirmed to your schedule under the charter agreement |
| Best for | Flexible one-way trips | Fixed meetings, events and connections |
How to find an empty leg
Empty legs are published by operators and brokers, but lists go out of date quickly as sectors are sold or schedules change, and many are only confirmed a few days before departure. The most reliable approach is to ask for empty legs on a specific route and date range, with an idea of how flexible you can be.
Oryx Global Aviation does not publish a live empty-leg list. Instead, send us your route, dates and passenger numbers, and we will check with our vetted operators for empty legs on that specific route. There is no guarantee that one will be available. Where an empty leg fits your plans we will say so, alongside a standard charter option so you can compare price and certainty.
Making an empty leg work
Empty legs suit travellers who can move their plans by a day or more, who are happy to use an airport near their first choice, and who have a back-up plan if the flight is withdrawn. They suit one-way trips, such as heading out to a holiday home or a ski resort, where a scheduled flight or a standard charter could still cover the return. For a meeting, an event or a connection that cannot be missed, a standard charter gives you the certainty an empty leg cannot.
It also helps to be ready to confirm quickly. Good empty legs on popular routes are often taken within hours of being offered, so having passenger numbers, passport details and payment arrangements ready means you can say yes while the sector is still available. Ask what happens to your booking if the flight is withdrawn, and what the operator will offer instead.