Empty Leg Flights Canada: 8,547 Private Jet Empty Legs Across 12 Airports

Over a rolling 12-month window of listings, SkyAccess recorded 8,547 private jet empty leg flights originating from airports across Canada, spread across 12 departure airports and connecting to more than 100 destination airports worldwide. This data story maps where those legs originate, where they go, and what it means for travelers looking to book discounted private aviation in Canada.

Canada’s empty leg landscape at a glance

Canada generates a substantial and geographically diverse volume of empty leg inventory. With 8,547 legs logged over the rolling 12-month window, the country ranks among the busiest non-US origins on SkyAccess’s empty leg marketplace. Legs are spread across 12 departure airports, ranging from international hubs in Toronto and Vancouver to regional fields in Hamilton and London, Ontario.

Because empty legs arise when an aircraft needs to reposition after dropping off passengers, the volume of outbound legs from a given airport reflects how active the charter market is there. Canada’s strong showing reflects steady demand for private aviation across its major business corridors and a significant cross-border flow to the United States.

Toronto dominates Canada’s empty leg supply

Toronto leads all Canadian departure airports by a wide margin. Toronto Pearson International Airport (CYYZ) accounts for 2,745 of Canada’s 8,547 legs, representing roughly one in three of all empty legs originating in the country. The city’s dense corporate travel demand, combined with its role as a major charter hub for US-bound private flights, makes it the natural center of gravity for Canadian empty leg availability.

Vancouver International Airport (CYVR) is the second-busiest Canadian origin with 863 legs, followed closely by Montreal’s Pierre Elliott Trudeau International (CYUL) at 763 legs and Calgary International (CYYC) at 697 legs. Together, these four airports account for 5,068 legs, or about 59% of Canada’s total rolling-window inventory.

Where Canadian empty legs go: strong cross-border demand

The top destination by leg count from Canadian origins is not another Canadian airport. Teterboro Airport (KTEB) in New Jersey, a primary business aviation gateway serving metropolitan New York, received 692 legs from Canadian departures over the rolling window, making it the single most popular destination for Canadian empty legs. White Plains Airport (KHPN) in New York added another 258, and Seattle’s Boeing Field (KBFI) attracted 176 legs. Miami-area Opa-locka Executive Airport (KOPF) was also a notable US destination at 148 legs.

This cross-border pattern reflects the commercial ties between Canadian cities and US financial centers. When a Toronto-based charter drops a business traveler in New York, the aircraft often returns empty. That repositioning leg is available on SkyAccess at a fraction of the cost of a full charter.

Within Canada, the most-received airports mirror the origin rankings: Toronto (588 inbound legs), Calgary (428), Vancouver (254), Hamilton (213), and Montreal (156) round out the top five domestic destinations from Canadian origins.

Vancouver: the Pacific gateway for empty legs

Vancouver (CYVR) serves a dual role as both a major origin and a frequent destination. Its 863 outbound legs make it Canada’s second-busiest departure airport, while its position as a Pacific Rim business hub drives steady inbound empty leg demand from both within Canada and the US Pacific Northwest. The Seattle-Vancouver corridor is particularly active in the rolling-window data, reflecting the close economic relationship between the two cities.

Montreal and Calgary: regional depth

Montreal and Calgary each contribute meaningfully to Canada’s empty leg totals at 763 and 697 origin legs respectively. Both cities serve as regional hubs with active charter markets — Montreal anchoring Quebec’s corporate aviation scene, Calgary serving as the gateway for Alberta’s energy sector. Travelers in either city regularly find cross-country and trans-border empty legs available on short notice, as aircraft reposition between these markets and the Toronto and Vancouver corridors.

How to find and book a Canadian empty leg

Empty legs in Canada are listed in real time on SkyAccess, where travelers can search by departure airport, destination, and travel date. Because availability is tied to operator scheduling, the window to book is often short. SkyAccess aggregates listings from 900+ FAA Part 135 certified operators — including Canadian carriers operating under equivalent Transport Canada authority — giving travelers the broadest view of available inventory.

Typical savings on a Canadian empty leg run 25% to 75% below the cost of a comparable full charter, depending on aircraft type, route, and how close to departure the leg is booked. The further the aircraft needs to reposition and the shorter the booking window, the deeper the potential discount.

Frequently asked questions

How many empty leg flights originate in Canada?

Over a rolling 12-month window of listings, SkyAccess recorded 8,547 private jet empty leg flights departing from 12 airports across Canada. Toronto (2,745 legs), Vancouver (863 legs), Montreal (763 legs), and Calgary (697 legs) are the four busiest Canadian departure airports for empty legs.

Which destinations get the most Canadian empty leg flights?

The most-received destination from Canadian empty leg departures is Teterboro Airport (KTEB) in New Jersey, with 692 legs in the rolling 12-month window, driven by the Toronto-to-New York business corridor. Within Canada, Toronto, Calgary, and Vancouver are the top domestic receiving airports.

How much can you save on Canada empty leg flights?

Travelers booking empty leg flights departing from Canadian airports typically save 25% to 75% below the cost of a comparable full charter booking. The exact discount depends on aircraft type, route, and how close to the departure date the leg is booked.

This data is citable with attribution to SkyAccess. For same-day custom pulls, contact press@theskyaccess.com.