Empty leg flights: fly private for a fraction of the charter price

What is an empty leg?

An empty leg — also called a ferry or repositioning flight — is a private jet sector flown without paying passengers. It occurs whenever an aircraft needs to move to its next assignment or return to its home base after dropping off a charter client. For the operator, that sector is pure cost: crew, fuel, and fees with no revenue attached.

Rather than fly the cabin empty, operators list these sectors publicly at conditions a regular charter can never match. If your dates and routing are flexible, you fly the same aircraft, crew, and service level — at a fraction of the standard price.

How do empty legs come about?

A typical scenario: a client charters a jet from Geneva to Ibiza. Once the passengers disembark, the aircraft is needed back in Geneva for its next assignment — that return sector is an empty leg. The same happens when a jet is positioned to a pick-up airport, or heads home after a one-way charter.

Because charters are booked and dispatched at short notice, empty legs appear continuously, often only days before departure. The market shifts every day — which is why voidjet refreshes its index daily.

Why are empty legs 30–75 % cheaper?

The repositioning cost exists for the operator either way. Every euro a passenger pays for an otherwise empty sector reduces that loss — which is why empty legs are typically discounted by 30 to 75 % against the regular charter price.

The trade-off: route and time window are largely fixed, since they derive from the operator's original assignment. An empty leg suits travellers who can adapt to the offer — less so those whose date and destination cannot move.

How an inquiry via voidjet works

voidjet aggregates publicly listed empty legs from leading European operators and makes them searchable by route, date, and price. Found a flight that fits? Submit an inquiry with a few details — free of charge and non-binding.

We verify availability and terms directly with the operator and come back with a concrete answer: confirmation, an alternative offer, or — if the flight has already been allocated — a decline. The charter itself is always performed by the operator, and the contract is concluded directly between you and them. voidjet acts as an intermediary, charges no fee for it, and does not process payments.

Empty legs and CO₂

The flight departs whether or not the cabin is occupied — so your booking adds close to zero incremental emissions. The aircraft would otherwise fly the sector empty; filling the seats changes neither the schedule nor, in practical terms, the fuel burn. Choosing an empty leg means using capacity that would otherwise go to waste, without putting an additional aircraft in the air.

Frequently asked questions

How much does an empty leg cost?

It depends on route, aircraft type, and timing. As a rule of thumb: 30 to 75 % below the regular charter price for the same sector. Short hops on light jets are sometimes listed in the low four figures. The listed price is an operator indication and becomes binding with their confirmation.

How short-notice can I book?

Very — that is the nature of the product. Many empty legs depart within 24 to 72 hours of being listed, and some can still be requested a few hours before take-off. The earlier you inquire, the better your chances of availability.

Can the flight be cancelled?

Yes — that is the key caveat. An empty leg depends on the original charter assignment; if that changes or is cancelled, the empty leg may fall away too. In that case the operator refunds the full amount. For appointments that absolutely cannot slip, a regular charter is the safer choice.

Can I change the date or the route?

Generally not. Route and time window follow the operator's schedule — that is precisely where the discount comes from. Minor shifts of the departure time may be possible depending on the operator; route changes or extra stops usually are not.

Is the inquiry via voidjet really free?

Yes. Searching and inquiring via voidjet is free and non-binding. We pass your inquiry to the operator and accompany it through to their response — there is no brokerage fee, and no payments are processed through voidjet.

Who are empty legs for?

Anyone who can stay flexible: spontaneous city trips, return flights from events, hops between holiday homes. If you can adapt to the offer, you fly private at a price point that is otherwise out of reach.