Guide · Empty legs
Empty legs
in Spain.
When a private aircraft flies empty to reposition, the operator can sell that leg below the charter price. Knowing when they appear is the whole game.
How they work
An empty leg is one way, on a fixed route and window set by the original trip. It often appears at short notice, and it can change or be cancelled if the original charter changes. Brokers advertise discounts of up to 75% off the usual price.
When they appear in Spain
- June to September: heavy one-way flows to Ibiza and Mallorca, with aircraft returning empty.
- Mid-October onwards: the Mediterranean fleet repositions north, which floods routes with empty legs. (Villiers, "Autumn empty legs")
- December to March: ski-season flows to Geneva, Zurich and the Alps. (Empty Leg Guide, "Empty leg flights in Europe")
How to catch one from Madrid
Be flexible on dates and airport, and leave a route watch: we match confirmed, publication-permitted empty legs against your route and contact you when one fits. Create a route watch →
Sources
- Empty Leg Guide, "Empty leg flights in Europe"
- Villiers, "Autumn empty legs"
- Jetvice, "Private jet charter hourly rates 2026"
Checked 4 October 2026. These are published commercial estimates, not Madrid Privé rates; the real price is set in the written quote.
Your flight
A real quote,
in writing.
Tell us the route, dates and passengers. We send options with aircraft, operator and total price confirmed, and watch your route for empty legs.
Plan my flight →Before you fly
A few good questions.
What is an empty leg?
A one-way private flight an aircraft must make to reposition, sold below the normal charter price.
When are there most empty legs in Spain?
In summer around Ibiza and Mallorca, and from mid-October when fleets reposition north.