What is an Empty Leg Flight?

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    What is an Empty Leg Flight?

    Demystifying Empty Leg Flights: Understanding the Phenomenon

    Empty leg flights, often referred to as one-way charter flights or deadhead flights, represent a unique aspect of the private aviation industry. While the concept may seem straightforward, there are nuances and benefits to understand. In this article, we’ll delve into the intricacies of empty leg flights, explaining what they are, how they occur, and why they present an opportunity for both travelers and charter operators.

    An empty leg flight refers to a segment of a private jet’s itinerary in which the aircraft flies without passengers onboard. These flights occur when a private jet is positioning itself to pick up passengers for its next charter flight or when it is returning to its home base after dropping off passengers at their destination.  Essentially, empty leg flights represent unused capacity in the private aviation industry.

    How Do Empty Leg Flights Occur?

    Empty leg flights typically occur for the following reasons:

    1. Repositioning: Private jets often need to reposition themselves to meet the demand for charter flights. After dropping off passengers at one location, the aircraft may need to fly empty to another airport to pick up passengers for its next scheduled flight.
    2. One-Way Charters: Charter flights are frequently booked for one-way trips, meaning the aircraft may need to return empty after dropping off passengers at their destination.
    3. Schedule Flexibility: Private jet operators prioritize flexibility to meet the needs of their clients. As a result, there are instances where the aircraft needs to fly empty to accommodate changes in the schedule or last-minute requests.

    Benefits of Empty Leg Flights:

    For travelers:

    1. Cost Savings: Empty leg flights are often sold at discounted rates compared to traditional charter flights, offering travelers the opportunity to experience private jet travel at a fraction of the cost.
      Learn More How Much are Empty Leg Flights?
    2. Luxury and Comfort: Empty leg flights provide the same level of luxury, comfort, and personalized service as regular charter flights, allowing passengers to enjoy an exclusive and stress-free travel experience.
    3. Flexibility: While empty leg flights require some flexibility with travel dates and destinations, they offer the freedom to explore spontaneous travel opportunities or plan last-minute getaways.
      Learn More Exploring Empty Leg Flights: Everything You Need to Know.

    For charter operators:

    1. Revenue Generation: Empty leg flights enable charter operators to monetize otherwise unused capacity and generate additional revenue by selling these flights at discounted rates.
    2. Efficiency: By filling empty leg flights with paying passengers, charter operators can optimize the utilization of their fleet and reduce operational costs associated with positioning flights.
    3. Customer Satisfaction: Offering empty leg flights at reduced rates enhances customer satisfaction and loyalty by providing value-added services and unique travel opportunities to clients.

    Conclusion:

    Empty leg flights represent a win-win scenario for both travelers seeking luxury air travel experiences and charter operators looking to optimize the utilization of their fleet.  By understanding the concept of empty leg flights and their benefits, travelers can take advantage of discounted rates and enjoy the convenience and comfort of private jet travel.  Meanwhile, charter operators can capitalize on empty leg opportunities to generate additional revenue and enhance customer satisfaction.

    How much does it cost to charter a private jet?

    Below is what you can expect for typical pricing across the U.S. jet charter market.  Actual availability and pricing for a specific date and routing may be a bit lower or higher depending on industry schedules.  Some may ask, “Is it possible for cost be 1/2 of these prices?  Unfortunately no, see also the Jet Charter Pricing Q & A below.

    Many variables go into individual jet charter quotes and pricing for any particular trip. The industry is very diverse, with around 7,000 charter aircraft and 1,650 certificated charter operators in the US alone.

    New Flight Charters has industry-wide reach makes it simple and guarantees the best pricing industry-wide for any specific charter flight.  Get customized make/model quotes if you prefer.  Prefer to see only quotes for the latest models like the new Praetor 600, Legacy 450 or Gulfstream G700?  You got it.  For any request, receive a summary of best available quotes and information for review and comparison.

    Quick Jet Charter Example Pricing:

    Executive Turboprops (up to 8 passengers)

    • A 1-hour drop off is typically $8,000 – $10,000
    • A 2-hour drop off is typically $14,000 – $16,000
    • A 2-hour two day round trip is typically $15,000 – $18,000

     

    Light Jets (up to 7 passengers)

    • A 1-hour one-way flight is typically $10,000 – $12,000
    • A 2-hour one-way flight is typically $12,000 – $15,000
    • A 2-hour flight round trip over 2 days is typically $20,000 – $25,000
    • A one-way flight between New York and Florida is typically $15,000 – $20,000
    • A round trip between New York and Florida over 3 days is typically $30,000 – $40,000
    • A round trip between Texas and New York over 2 days is typically $30,000 – $35,000


    Midsize Jets
    (up to 8 passengers, stand-up cabin)

    • A 2-hour one-way flight is typically $15,000 – $20,000.
    • A 3-hour three day round trip is typically $40,000 – $50,000


    Super-Midsize Jets
    (up to 9 passengers, coast to coast range)

    • A 4-hour one-way from either coast is typically $26,000 – $34,000
    • A 5-hour coast-to-coast one-way flight nonstop is typically $30,000 – $40,000
    • A round trip California to Hawaii over 7 days is typically $90,000 – $120,00


    Heavy Jets
    (up to 16 passengers, inter-continental range)

    • A one-way flight between Hawaii and California one-way is typically $40,000 – $70,000
    • A round trip California to Hawaii over 7 days is typically $110,000 – $130,000
    • A one-way flight between the US and Europe is typically $60,000 – $100,000
    • A round trip New York to Europe over 7 days is typically $110,000 – $150,000

     

    Regional Airliner Charters (up to 30 passengers)

    • A 2-hour one-way flight is typically $40,000 – $60,000
    • A 3-hour flight round trip over seven-days for 20-30 passengers is typically $100,000 – $130,000
    Jet Charter Pricing Q & A:
    Q: Can I get a private jet charter flight for under $10,000?

    A: It’s very rare. If a flight of 1-hour or less matches up with a light jet empty leg, it may be under $10,000 total.  Executive turboprops such as the Pilatus PC-12 or King Air series will typically be under $10,000 for a 1-hour flight or same-day round trip in many parts of the country.  See example costs above.

    Q: What about the articles I see about empty legs for dirt cheap, same as airline fares, or even 1/2 price?

    A: There is a market for all flights, and a well-fitting empty leg will typically be around 75% of standard pricing. Keep in mind, Empty Legs are a convenient marketing angle to attract interest.  Like they say, if it sounds too good to be true…

    Q: How far in advance is best for quotes and booking? The earlier the better?

    A: Not usually. Different from the airlines, the best jet charter quotes and availability are less than 2 months in advance, often less than 1 month. Typically specific aircraft availability and pricing are not set further in advance.

    Q: When is the best time to find an empty leg?

    A: Most jet charters book less than 2 weeks in advance, so that is when the most empty legs become available in aircraft schedules.

    Q: I hear about floating fleets with one-way pricing, what is that?

    A: The biggest trend in jet charter the past decade is specific fleets that string one-way flights together in their schedules, reducing the positioning costs of traditional charters, thus allowing for reduced ‘one-way’ pricing. These are often the best cost options for one-way flights of 2 hours or more. These are the same fleets most jet cards and memberships use to minimize their costs below the rates their customers are paying.

    Q: Are there exceptions? If a jet is flying empty anyway, won’t they take me for cheap for at least some income?

    A: There is a market for flights in the charter industry, so each flight has a market value even up to hours before. Also, flying under charter’s FAA Part-135 regulations is more restrictive, expensive and consuming than flying empty repositioning under Part-91.

    Q: The airline tickets for this trip are so expensive, if 6 of us chartered our own jet could it be similar or not much more?

    A: See the above actual average costs

    Q: Are the above example charter costs your set rates or guaranteed?

    A: No, but they are typical and what we would expect as every-day best in the charter market. For a specific date and itinerary quotes may be a little lower or a bit higher, however we would expect in most cases to be in this range. We do have the widest availability and guaranteed best price industry-wide.

    Q: How can I get a quick real estimate of what a flight might cost, for our decision-making?

    A: Jet charter has so many variables, get helpful easy answers from a friendly expert at 888-701-3843 (no sales pitches, guilt or commitment).