When Empty Legs Appear: 20,000 Empty Legs Analyzed

Most people looking for an empty leg plan it like an airline ticket: pick a date weeks ahead, then search. The data says that is the wrong way round.

We looked at 19,807 empty leg flights published by 79 charter operators between 31 July and 18 October 2026, departing from 86 countries. The data comes from Empty Leg List (emptylegslist.com), which records every leg the moment an operator lists it and again when it is taken down.

Three things stand out. Empty legs appear late. They do not stay listed for long. And some days bring far more of them than others.

Half are listed a week or less before departure

An empty leg exists because an aircraft has to be somewhere else for its next job. Operators often only know that a few days out, once the paying trip is confirmed.

So the median empty leg goes up 7 days before it flies.

• 13.5% are listed on the day of the flight.
• 23.9% are listed 1 to 3 days before.
• 15.2% are listed 4 to 7 days before.
• 15.0% are listed 8 to 14 days before.
• 15.6% are listed 15 to 30 days before.
• 16.9% are listed more than a month ahead.

Put together, 52.6% appear 7 days or less before departure, and 67.5% within two weeks.

Europe gives the least notice

Notice is not the same everywhere. The median lead time between listing and departure is:

• Europe: 3 days
• United States: 7 days
• Canada: 12 days

If you are flying in Europe, an empty leg that suits you will most likely appear in the same week you want to travel.

A quarter are gone within a day

Once a leg is listed, the clock starts. The median empty leg stays on the operator's list for about 3.5 days.

• 23.9% are taken down within 24 hours.
• 19.3% within 1 to 3 days.
• 23.5% within 3 to 7 days.
• 11.6% within 1 to 2 weeks.
• 21.7% stay up for more than two weeks.

46.5% of all legs are removed before their departure date. We can see when an operator takes a leg down, but not why: it may have been booked, rerouted or cancelled. Either way, it is no longer available.

Sunday is the busiest day

Empty legs follow the business and leisure week. When we count legs by departure day, Sunday leads clearly:

• Sunday: 18.4%
• Friday: 15.2%
• Thursday: 14.9%
• Monday: 13.8%
• Wednesday: 13.3%
• Saturday: 12.7%
• Tuesday: 11.8%

That makes sense: aircraft position on Friday for weekend trips, then fly home empty on Sunday. If your dates are flexible, Sunday and Friday give you the most to choose from. Tuesday gives the least.

Where the most legs fly

North America accounts for most of the market in this data, with 15,216 legs, against 4,067 departing from Europe. The busiest recorded routes are short business hops: Houston to Dallas (58 legs), Teterboro to Toronto (56), Toronto to Montreal (41) and Vancouver to Calgary (35).

In Europe the busiest departure cities are London, Wevelgem in Belgium, Nice, Paris and Antwerp, with Belgian legs to Ibiza and Malaga showing up again and again.

What this means if you want one

1. Do not plan weeks ahead. Most legs do not exist yet. Two thirds appear within the last two weeks.
2. Set an alert for your route. With a quarter of legs gone within a day, checking once a week means you miss most of them. A free alert on emptylegslist.com emails you the moment a matching leg is listed.
3. Be flexible on the day. Sunday and Friday have the most legs. Tuesday has the fewest.
4. Be ready to decide fast. An empty leg flies at the operator's schedule, not yours, and it can be taken down at any time.
5. Look at nearby airports. In New York that means Teterboro, in London it means Luton, Farnborough and Biggin Hill.

For prices, see what an empty leg really costs.

Frequently asked questions

How far in advance are empty legs listed?

The median is 7 days before departure. 52.6% are listed a week or less ahead and 13.5% on the day of the flight.

How long does an empty leg stay available?

The median is about 3.5 days on the operator's list. 23.9% are taken down within 24 hours.

What is the best day to find an empty leg?

Sunday has the most departures (18.4% of legs), followed by Friday. Tuesday has the fewest (11.8%).

Can I book an empty leg months ahead?

Rarely. 16.9% are listed more than a month ahead. For most routes, the leg you want does not exist yet.

About the data

Data: Empty Leg List (emptylegslist.com). 19,807 empty legs first seen between 31 July and 18 October 2026, published by 79 charter operators on their own websites and feeds. Lead time is the number of days between the first time a leg was listed and its departure date. Time listed is measured from first seen to removal from the operator's list. Removal does not mean the leg was booked.

See every empty leg listed right now at emptylegslist.com.