PRIVATE JET EMPTY LEGS TO IBIZA & MALLORCA
The discount flights that exist when an aircraft has to fly anyway
A significant share of private jet flying is one-way, which means the aircraft has to reposition for its next paid flight. That repositioning sector, flown empty, is called an empty leg, and operators will sell it at a significant discount rather than fly it with no passengers. For travellers with flexibility on date or time, these flights offer access to the private aviation experience at a meaningful saving. The Solutioner's private aviation service for Ibiza and Mallorca includes empty-leg sourcing, and this guide explains how the market works.
How Empty Legs Arise
A private jet flies from London to Ibiza on a Friday, sits on the ground for ten days while the client is on the island, and is then booked to fly elsewhere on the Monday. If the aircraft has to be back in London for a later booking, the empty leg from Ibiza to London on the Monday is exactly the kind of flight that operators will price aggressively to recover any revenue at all.
The Balearics are a particularly busy market for empty legs because the islands receive heavy outbound private flying every weekend in summer and the planes have to return to base. See also our guide on the full private jet chartering service, which covers the more conventional booking process.
Flexibility Is the Trade-Off
The discount on an empty leg comes with a constraint. The route is fixed by where the aircraft has to be. The date is fixed by when the operator needs it to fly. Sometimes the time is fixed within a narrow window. For travellers who can fit their plans around the available legs, the saving against a conventional charter is substantial. For travellers who need a specific city pair on a specific morning, the empty-leg market will rarely match the requirement.
The Solutioner monitors the available empty legs serving the Balearics, both inbound and outbound, and can alert clients to a flight that fits their plans within hours of it being posted. More on the wider transport mix is in our guide to moving between Ibiza and Mallorca for clients dividing their time.
The Same Aircraft, the Same Service
An empty leg uses exactly the same aircraft, crew, and FBO terminals as a full-price charter. The catering, the cabin service, and the ground handling are all to the same standard. The only differences are the price and the lack of flexibility on the route. For first-time private jet travellers, empty legs are often a sensible way to experience the format before committing to a conventional charter.
Booking Process
Empty legs are sold quickly, often within hours of being listed, and they cannot be held without a deposit. The Solutioner can act on a client's behalf with pre-agreed parameters, so when a suitable leg appears the team can secure it immediately rather than wait for confirmation that would risk losing the flight. The team can also coordinate ground transfers tied to the empty-leg arrival time alongside the elements covered here.