5 min read
An empty leg is not a discount. It is an operator selling a flight that was going to happen anyway, at marginal cost, because the alternative is flying it with nobody on board.
Where empty legs come from
Charter aircraft rarely end the day where they started. A jet that flies a client from Nice to London must either wait for the return or reposition to its next booking. That repositioning sector is the empty leg.
Because the crew, fuel and slots are already committed, an operator will release it at 25–60% of the equivalent on-demand price rather than fly it empty.
What you trade away
Empty legs are tied to the parent booking. If the original client moves their flight by three hours, or cancels entirely, the empty leg moves or disappears with it. That is the real cost, and it is why they suit flexible leisure travel far better than a board meeting.
- Fixed origin and destination — no routing changes
- Departure windows can shift by hours, occasionally by a day
- Cancellation risk sits with the parent booking, not with you
- Aircraft substitution is possible and usually upward
How to book one properly
Verify the operator holds a valid AOC for the sector, confirm in writing whether the price includes handling, catering and taxes, and always ask what happens if the parent leg cancels — a reputable broker will state the rebooking or refund mechanism up front.
Our live board is refreshed daily and every listing is traced back to the operating certificate holder before it is published.
Frequently asked
- How much cheaper are empty legs?
- Typically 25–60% below the equivalent on-demand charter price for the same aircraft and sector.
- Can an empty leg be cancelled?
- Yes. It depends on the parent booking that created it, so the departure can move or be withdrawn.
- Can I change the destination of an empty leg?
- No. The routing is fixed by the operator's repositioning requirement.
Continue on CorsoJet
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