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Empty Leg Charters

Empty Legs & Aircraft Charter

If you are new to the world of aircraft charter, and even if you’re not, you may be unfamiliar with the term “empty legs.”

Simply put, an empty leg occurs when an aircraft flies without passengers, or empty.

Empty legs are also an opportunity to charter an aircraft for exceptional value.

Why would an aircraft fly without passengers?

The two most common scenarios for an empty leg are:

  • Positioning to a different location to pickup passengers for their next trip
  • Returning to base after dropping passengers off

Anytime that an aircraft needs to position or return to base, an empty leg opportunity becomes available and can be chartered for a significant discount. The discount accounts for the typical constraints associated with an empty leg:

  • Empty legs are based on the primary charter schedule, which may restrict the departure date and time.
  • The empty leg route is determined by the original charter.
  • The empty leg is subject to changes or cancellation based upon the original charter.

Who is an empty leg a great option for?

If you have a flexible schedule and/or the empty legs are travelling near your preferred destination, empty legs are an excellent opportunity to charter for a fraction of the cost. If you require a guaranteed flight and need to control your flight schedule, empty legs may not always work for you.

Where do your empty legs typically fly?

Common empty leg routes for Sunwest Aviation charters include flights between:

  • Calgary or Edmonton and Kelowa, Vancouver, or Victoria
  • Calgary or Edmonton and Palm Springs, Scottsdale, or Phoenix
  • Calgary or Edmonton and Kalispell
  • Calgary or Edmonton and Montreal or Toronto.

The departure and arrival locations can also be modified and are negotiable. For example, if you are interested in flying to Comox rather than Victoria, the empty leg can be adjusted to meet your needs.

How can I view available flights?

You can view our empty legs by visiting www.sunwestaviation.ca and selecting the “Empty Legs” tab on our charter search tool. You can also sign up for our empty leg alerts and have them delivered directly to your inbox (typically 1-2 emails per week).

Contact us to charter an empty leg or to learn more about empty legs, aircraft charter, and the Sunwest Charter Membership.

Telephone: +1 (403) 275-8121
Toll Free: 1-888-291-4566
Email: info@sunwestaviation.ca

Sunwest Aviation Ltd. Western Canada’s largest and most diverse business aviation provider.

Sunwest Aviation is a Transport Canada, Argus Platinum, and IS-BAO Stage III certified aircraft operator. Sunwest is also the Shell AeroCentre branded FBO at the Calgary International Airport. Calgary’s premier business aviation provider.