A Decade of Empty Legs

How Unsold Private Jet Seats Have Changed Since 2014

In private aviation, empty legs were once an industry curiosity, a niche idea whispered among brokers and ultra-savvy travelers. But over the year, they have grown into a major operational and commercial force. From discounted travel opportunities to data-driven routing and sustainability conversations, empty legs have evolved since 2014. Here we will trace that evolution, explain what has changed, and explore where the empty leg market is headed.

What Are Empty Legs?

Before we dive into how they have changed, let’s first define what empty legs are. Empty legs are flights where a private jet flies without passengers. These occur when an aircraft has to reposition itself, usually to pick up a paying passenger or return to base after a charter trip. Rather than flying empty, charter operators often sell these legs at a discounted rate. Sometimes as low as 25-75% off a standard charter. Travelers sometimes confuse empty legs with shared charter or empty seat programs. But unlike commercial seats, empty legs still give exclusive use of the aircraft at a lower price.

2014-2016: Awareness and Opportunity

In 2014, empty legs were still a relatively obscure concept outside the most connected brokers.

Key characteristics of this era:

• Empty leg offers were mostly handled manually through broker networks and operator relationships.

• Listing were rare and often outdated, many offers expired before reaching customers.

• Travelers didn’t fully understand the concept so demandwas inconsistent.

• Pricing lacked transparency, and there was wide variation in discounts.

Despite these limitations, savvy charter brokers saw potential. They realized that.

• Empty legs could improve fleet utilization

• Operators could recover costs on repositioning flights

• Travelers could access private flight experiences at a fraction of the cost

But the lack of infrastructure limited growth.

2017-2019: Growth Through Technology and Market Awareness

By 2017, the combination of technology and market education began reshaping the empty-leg landscape.

1. Online Marketplaces and Digital Listings

Platforms for listing empty legs - aggregators, broker portals, and marketplace apps became more common. This brought two major changes:

• Travelers could browse real-time offers instead of relying on brokers' personal networks.

• Operators could broadcast empty leg flights widely, increasing fill rates.

This was when empty legs started feeling less like a rumor and more like a routine part of private jet travel.

2. Data and Predictive Scheduling

As digital systems tracked actual usage, operators could predict empty leg occurrences. This enabled:

• Better pricing strategies

• Improved matching of offers to traveler interest

• Automated notifications to interested buyers

Suddenly, empty legs weren’t just an afterthought; they were an asset to optimize.

3. Rising Consumer Awareness

Empty legs entered travel press, blogs, and even luxury magazines. This brought new customers who:

• Had never chartered before

• Were curious but hesitant about private jets

• Wanted luxury at a lower price point

This period set the stage for accelerated growth.

2020-2021: COVID Impact

The pandemic changed global travel, and empty legs were no exception.

Why?

• Commercial flights were reduced or canceled

• High-net-worth travelers avoided crowded airports

• Private aviation suddenly became not just luxurious, but necessary for safe travel.

Effects on Empty Legs:

Demand Explosion

Even as travel contracted overall, private aviation demand surged, particularly for flexible travel. Empty leg flights became attractive to:

• Essential business travelers

• Families avoiding commercial travel

• Medical and urgent travel

In this period, empty legs went from nice to have to a strategic option for many operators.

Operator Strategy Shift

Rather than discounting empty legs as much, some operators prioritized filling them with higher-yield priced traffic. In some markets, discounts tightened, especially on short notice.

Technology as a Force Multiplier 

Platforms that could instantly match supply and demand, sometimes using automated alerts and machine learning, performed best. This accelerated the shift toward real-time, data-driven empty leg systems.

2022–2024: Maturation and Monetization

After the initial COVID surge, the empty-leg market matured into a highly structured opportunity with standardized tools and strategies.

Key trends:

1. Transparency in Pricing

Customers became smarter. Broker tools and platforms began showing:

• Historical pricing

• Real-time availability

• Aircraft specs

• Route patterns

This transparency made empty legs a trusted and understood product rather than a gamble.

2. More Sophisticated Matching

Instead of listing empty legs publicly and waiting for buyers, operators used:

• AI-enabled demand prediction

• Traveler preference profiles

• Smart push notifications

This improved match rates and reduced the time an empty leg stayed unsold.

3. Environmental and CSR Considerations

Empty legs entered sustainability conversations. Operators and customers asked:

• “If it’s going to fly anyway, can we put revenue behind it?”

• “Can we offer carbon offsets on empty leg flights?”

Empty legs became a way to reduce the environmental impact per passenger and support messaging around responsible private aviation.

What Has Changed In Numbers and Habits

Empty legs increased not just in absolute numbers, but in visibility and predictability. Hundreds of routes became regularly listed instead of being one-off chances.

Demand Profile Shift

• Empty leg buyers are no longer just bargain seekers.

• Today’s buyers include frequent charter travelers looking for flexibility, business executives on recurring routes, families who want private experiences at better prices, and first-time luxury travelers.

In business aviation, technology has performed major role in growth and upgradation. Most of the change stems from technology adoption, such as dynamic pricing tools, real-time listings, mobile notifications, AI-driven matching algorithms, and CRM integration for operators and brokers. This transformed the market from a sporadic opportunity to a predictable product line.

Looking Ahead: The Next Decade

In 2014, empty legs were an intriguing but underutilized artifact of private aviation. Ten years later, they have become a strategic commercial product, driven by technology, market awareness, and shifting travel preferences.

For operators and brokers, they are no longer just unsold seats; they are tools for revenue optimization, customer engagement, and brand differentiation. For travelers, they offer accessible luxury with smart value.

The journey from awkward byproduct to strategic asset shows how even the side effects of private jet travel can be transformed with data, innovation, and customer-first thinking into something meaningful for everyone in the ecosystem.