Why empty legs exist
A client books a one way flight from London to Nice. The jet lands in Nice and has to go back to its base in London, or on to Geneva for the next client. That flight happens anyway, with or without passengers. Instead of flying it empty, the operator sells it.
The client who booked the outbound has already paid for the positioning of the aircraft, so the operator can sell the empty leg for a fraction of the normal price and still cover the fuel and the crew.
The catch
The aircraft decides. The date, the departure time and the direction are fixed by the next booking, and the leg can move or disappear if the original client changes plans. An empty leg suits travellers who can adapt by a few hours or a day; it does not suit a meeting that cannot move.
The rest is the same as any charter: the whole aircraft is yours, the same crew, the same operator certificate, the same service on board.
What empty legs cost
Full charter against the empty leg band of the same aircraft on the same route, one way, midsize jet.
| Route | Full charter | Empty leg |
|---|---|---|
| Geneva to Nice | €6,700 to €8,000 | €2,700 to €4,800 |
| Milan to Olbia | €8,400 to €10,300 | €3,400 to €6,200 |
| Paris to Nice | €10,000 to €12,400 | €4,000 to €7,400 |
| London to Geneva | €10,500 to €13,100 | €4,200 to €7,900 |
| London to Nice | €13,000 to €16,300 | €5,200 to €9,800 |
| London to Ibiza | €16,000 to €20,200 | €6,400 to €12,100 |
| New York to Miami | €19,200 to €24,200 | €7,700 to €14,500 |
| London to Mykonos | €26,200 to €33,300 | €10,500 to €20,000 |
Atljet model, November 2026. The empty leg band is 40% to 60% of the charter price; operators set the final figure.
