Empty Leg Flights in Africa

An empty leg is a private flight that would otherwise fly with no passengers on board — an aircraft heading home after dropping a client, or flying out to collect the next one. Because the aircraft is flying anyway, operators sell these sectors for less than a normal charter. In Africa they come up most often between the big charter bases and the places clients fly to: Lagos and Abuja, Johannesburg and the Cape, Nairobi and the coast, and the safari gateways.

Get empty-leg alerts for your route

Tell us where you want to fly from, where to and when. We pass the route to operators and brokers who fly it and email you when a matching repositioning flight comes up.

How empty legs work

A charter price normally includes the aircraft’s positioning: flying out empty from its base to collect you, or back home after you land. When one client books a one-way trip, the return sector is already paid for in part — so the operator would rather fill it at a lower price than fly it empty.

Fixed route and time. The aircraft is going from A to B at roughly a set time. A little flexibility on the departure time is sometimes possible.
Whole aircraft. You charter the full aircraft for that sector, not a seat.
Short notice. Most empty legs appear a few days to a few weeks before the flight, once the original charter is confirmed.

Where empty legs come up in Africa

Most charter aircraft in Africa are based in a handful of cities. Routes that start or end at those bases produce the most repositioning flights:

Nigeria: Abuja to Lagos, Port Harcourt to Lagos and Lagos to Abuja — most aircraft are based in Lagos.
South Africa: Cape Town to Johannesburg, Durban to Johannesburg and Johannesburg to Cape Town.
Southern Africa safari: Victoria Falls to Johannesburg, Gaborone to Johannesburg and Maun to Victoria Falls.
East Africa: Nairobi to Mombasa, Nairobi to Zanzibar and Nairobi to Johannesburg.

How much cheaper is an empty leg?

Often well below the normal one-way price, because the operator is recovering part of a cost it would otherwise carry in full. The discount depends on how close the flight is, how far the aircraft is travelling and whether another client is likely to book it. Compare any offer with the live one-way estimate for the same route in our private jet cost calculator before you decide.

The trade-offs

The original charter comes first. If the paying client changes their plans, the empty leg can move or be cancelled — keep a backup plan for anything time-critical.
One direction only. An empty leg covers a single sector; the return needs its own flight.
The aircraft is fixed. You fly on whatever aircraft is repositioning, which may be larger or smaller than you would normally choose.

Empty leg or a normal charter?

If your dates are flexible and a one-way trip suits you, register an alert above. If you need a specific day, time or aircraft, search the route and request a firm quote — operators often mention a matching empty leg in their reply anyway.

Frequently asked questions

What is an empty leg flight?

A private flight that would otherwise fly without passengers, usually because the aircraft is repositioning before or after another client’s charter. Operators sell these sectors at a lower price.

Are empty legs cheaper than a normal charter?

Usually, because the operator is filling a flight it has to make anyway. The saving depends on timing, distance and demand for the sector.

Can I book an empty leg in Africa?

Yes. They come up most on routes linked to the main charter bases — Lagos, Johannesburg, Nairobi and the safari gateways. Register your route above to hear when one matches.

Can an empty leg be cancelled?

Yes. If the original paying client changes plans, the empty leg can move or disappear, so it suits flexible trips best.

How many passengers can travel on an empty leg?

Up to the aircraft’s seat limit, because you charter the whole aircraft for the sector. Tell us your group size so we only alert you to aircraft that fit.