Empty leg flights by route
An empty leg is a repositioning flight with a paying cabin and no scheduled passengers. Our route list covers 16 city pairs, from New York to Miami at 949 nautical miles to Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Prices below are estimates, not quotes.
- Home
- Routes
Aircraft fly repositioning legs between the airports where the next paying trip starts, and those legs are what brokers list as empty legs. The list on this page follows the routes travelers actually ask about: New York to Miami, Los Angeles to Las Vegas, New York to Los Angeles, and a dozen more. The jet is already going where you want to go, so the seat price reflects a repositioning estimate rather than a full charter.
Pricing on each route depends on the aircraft type, the distance, and how soon the operator needs the leg filled. A light jet on New York to Palm Beach, 902 nm, estimates at $9,500 to $14,500 for the whole cabin when the empty leg is available. Charters are flown by FAA Part 135 operators who hold operational control; we arrange as a broker under DOT Part 295 and disclose the operator before you book. If a leg fills before you decide, then the operator flies it without you.
Empty leg flights by route
Inbound legs land at the airport where the aircraft is based next, and Teterboro and Van Nuys carry most of the traffic. A jet returning to Teterboro from Miami, 2,227 miles from the strip, may show as an empty leg if the operator has no booking on that return. Peak density altitude at Teterboro reaches 2,300 ft at 115F, which matters to turboprops and light jets on a hot July afternoon.
New York → Miami
- 2h 37m
- $10,000–$15,000
- 949 nm
Los Angeles → Las Vegas
- 0h 47m
- $4,000–$6,000
- 199 nm
Los Angeles → San Francisco
- 0h 59m
- $4,000–$6,000
- 279 nm
Los Angeles → Aspen
- 1h 51m
- $7,000–$10,500
- 634 nm
Chicago → New York
- 1h 49m
- $7,000–$10,500
- 619 nm
Miami → Nassau
- 0h 42m
- $4,000–$6,000
- 161 nm
Washington, DC → New York
- 0h 46m
- $4,000–$6,000
- 194 nm
Dallas → Las Vegas
- 2h 34m
- $9,500–$15,000
- 925 nm
Outbound empty legs from Miami
Outbound legs leave when the operator has a trip scheduled from another base, so the direction matters as much as the date. Miami-Opa Locka sits 2,170 miles from the strip and Las Vegas, at 2,181 ft elevation, hits a density altitude near 6,300 ft at 115F, which limits some light jets on summer departures. If you need a specific departure, then a one-way charter at the standard rate may be the only firm option.
New York → Los Angeles
- 6h 15m
- $23,500–$36,000
- 2,129 nm
New York → Palm Beach
- 2h 30m
- $9,500–$14,500
- 902 nm
New York → Aspen
- 4h 43m
- $18,000–$27,500
- 1,503 nm
New York → The Hamptons
- 0h 30m
- $4,000–$6,000
- 82 nm
Dallas → Houston
- 0h 48m
- $4,000–$6,000
- 208 nm
New York → Boston
- 0h 41m
- $4,000–$6,000
- 158 nm
Los Angeles → Cabo San Lucas
- 2h 16m
- $8,500–$13,000
- 808 nm
Chicago → Miami
- 2h 48m
- $10,500–$16,000
- 1,023 nm
How we calculate route times and prices
Times come from great-circle distance between the two airports plus a 5 percent routing allowance, divided by the class cruise speed, with 0.3 hours added for taxi, climb, and descent. A light jet at 430 kts on the 199 nm Los Angeles to Las Vegas leg works out to 47 minutes; the figures are planning estimates, not filed flight plans.
Prices use the class hourly rate range and a one-hour minimum, so short legs sit near the bottom of the band. A turboprop at $2,200 to $3,500 per hour on a 161 nm Miami to Nassau hop is charged at the one-hour floor. Empty leg pricing is quoted per leg and per aircraft, and customs on international arrivals such as Nassau runs through CBP at the port of entry.
Questions
What are empty leg flights by route?
They are repositioning legs listed by the specific city pair the aircraft is flying, with no passengers booked on that segment. The route list here covers 16 pairs, from Los Angeles to San Francisco at 279 nm to New York to Los Angeles at 2,129 nm. Each listing is an estimate until the operator confirms the leg.
How much does an empty leg cost on a short route?
Short legs price at the one-hour minimum, so a light jet on the 194 nm Washington to New York run estimates at $4,000 to $6,000 for the cabin. That is a repositioning estimate, not a charter rate. The operator confirms the final figure, and taxes and fees may sit outside the band.
Which route is the longest on your list?
New York to Los Angeles at 2,129 nm is the longest pair, with a light jet time of 6h 15m and an estimate of $23,500 to $36,000. A light jet at that distance is near its limit, so a midsize or super-midsize aircraft is the realistic pick for the leg.
Can I book an international empty leg to Nassau?
Yes, if the operator has the leg open. Miami to Nassau is 161 nm, about 42 minutes in a light jet. International arrivals clear through CBP, so bring a passport for every passenger and confirm the port of entry with the operator before you commit.
How fast do empty legs disappear?
They are single-leg listings tied to one aircraft's schedule, so they can close as soon as the operator books the repositioning trip. If you see a route that fits, then ask for a hold the same day. We confirm aircraft, operator, and timing in writing before you pay anything.
Who operates the aircraft on these route flights?
The flights are flown by FAA Part 135 operators that hold operational control and maintain the aircraft. We act as your agent under DOT Part 295 and arrange the trip; we do not own or operate jets. TSA screening rules apply where the operator requires them at the FBO.