Empty leg flight market report: September 2026

Empty leg flight market report: September 2026

This is the September 2026 edition of the SkyAccess empty leg market report, a monthly data snapshot drawn from the production database of the world’s largest empty leg marketplace. The report covers listing volume, route concentration, aircraft mix, and operator activity for flights departing in September 2026. All figures are queried directly from the SkyAccess marketplace database as of September 23, 2026.

September 2026 at a glance

SkyAccess recorded 15,290 empty leg listings with September 2026 departure dates across 310 distinct charter operators. As of September 23, 4,010 published listings remain available for booking. The marketplace continues to aggregate inventory from 900+ certified charter operators globally, publishing 5,000+ live empty legs at any given time across light jets, midsize jets, super-midsize jets, heavy jets, and turboprops.

September inventory is tracking below August (18,455 listings) and well below the spring peak. Monthly listing counts across 2026 show a clear seasonal curve: March posted 61,395 listings, April 57,398, May 53,809, June 42,006, July 22,979, and August 18,455. The Q3 contraction reflects the summer charter season winding down; operators reposition fewer aircraft as leisure demand softens after Labor Day.

Busiest departure airports in September 2026

Teterboro (KTEB) in New Jersey leads all departure airports with 442 September listings, reinforcing its position as the primary private aviation hub for the New York metro area. Las Vegas (KLAS) follows with 248 departures, driven by entertainment and convention traffic generating return-leg repositioning. Van Nuys (KVNY) ranks third at 178 listings, serving as the gateway for Los Angeles private jet departures.

The rest of the top ten origin airports for September 2026:

• Miami Opa-locka (KOPF): 147 listings
• White Plains (KHPN): 145 listings
• Lincoln, Nebraska (KLNK): 141 listings
• Houston Hobby (KHOU): 122 listings
• Oakland (KOAK): 121 listings
• Omaha (KOMA): 108 listings

Lincoln and Omaha appearing in the top ten is a recurring pattern on SkyAccess; Nebraska-based operators with regional fleets generate a disproportionate share of short-haul repositioning legs between Midwest airports.

Top arrival airports

The arrival side largely mirrors departures. Teterboro (KTEB) leads with 431 inbound empty legs, followed by Las Vegas (290), Van Nuys (221), Lincoln (148), Miami Opa-locka (137), White Plains (131), Oakland (127), Spokane (116), and Houston (113). The Teterboro-to-Teterboro symmetry reflects the New York metro’s role as both a demand generator and a repositioning magnet: aircraft fly clients into the region and need to return to home bases elsewhere, while other operators reposition jets into Teterboro ahead of outbound charters.

Busiest corridors

The highest-volume single corridors in September 2026 are regional shuttle routes rather than the glamour city pairs most travelers associate with private aviation:

• Wenatchee (KEAT) to Appleton (KATW): 79 listings
• Appleton (KATW) to Arlington (KAWO): 79 listings
• Columbus (KCMH) to Toronto (CYYZ): 78 listings (combined format variants)
• Toronto (CYYZ) to Regina (CYQR): 76 listings (combined)
• Lincoln (KLNK) to Omaha (KOMA): 49 listings
• Omaha (KOMA) to Lincoln (KLNK): 44 listings
• Las Vegas (KLAS) to Van Nuys (KVNY): 36 listings
• Boise (KBOI) to Spokane (KSFF): 35 listings

For travelers searching for deals, the consumer-friendly corridors with the best combination of volume and route appeal are Las Vegas to Van Nuys (36 legs), White Plains to Teterboro (24 legs), and Van Nuys to Las Vegas (22 legs). These corridors offer consistent availability and represent the kind of short-haul repositioning flights where empty leg savings of 25-75% off full charter rates are most reliably available.

Aircraft mix: what is flying empty in September

The aircraft category breakdown reveals the fleet composition behind September’s empty leg inventory. The seven most-listed aircraft models account for a significant share of all September listings:

• Bombardier Learjet 60 (midsize jet, 8 seats): 2,668 listings
• Pilatus PC-12 (turboprop, 7 seats): 982 listings
• Cessna Citation XLS (midsize jet, 8 seats): 676 listings
• Cessna Citation CJ3 (light jet, 8 seats): 527 listings
• Cessna Citation CJ2 (light jet, 6 seats): 521 listings
• Embraer Phenom 300 (light jet, 10 seats): 482 listings
• Bombardier Challenger 300 (super-midsize jet, 9 seats): 389 listings

Midsize jets dominate the mix, with the Learjet 60 alone accounting for 17% of all September listings. Light jets (CJ3, CJ2, Phenom 300) collectively represent a strong second tier. The Pilatus PC-12 turboprop’s presence at number two reflects operator economics: turboprops have lower operating costs per hour, making them efficient for short regional repositioning flights where the savings on fuel and maintenance offset the slower cruise speed.

Operator participation

310 distinct operators listed at least one flight with a September 2026 departure date on SkyAccess. That figure represents roughly one-third of the platform’s 900+ certified charter operator network, which is consistent with the seasonal pattern: not every operator generates repositioning flights every month, and September’s post-summer lull naturally reduces the number of active listers.

Operator concentration remains moderate. The five most active operators by listing volume contributed approximately 30% of September’s total inventory, while the remaining 305 operators collectively accounted for the other 70%. This distribution is healthy for marketplace diversity; buyers see genuine competition on popular routes rather than a single operator dominating the inventory.

Pricing context

Empty leg flights on SkyAccess are priced by the operator for the whole aircraft, not per passenger. According to Avinode pricing analysis, the standard full charter rate ranges from $2,000-$6,000 per flight hour for light jets, $4,000-$8,000 for midsize jets, and $7,000-$13,000 for heavy jets. Empty legs on the SkyAccess marketplace typically list at 25-75% below these full charter benchmarks, with the exact discount depending on route, timing, aircraft type, and how far in advance the leg is booked.

The typical empty leg booking window is 48-72 hours before departure, though listings appear as early as 14 days out. Industry-wide, empty leg cancellation rates run 10-15% according to NBAA and Avinode data, because the underlying charter that creates the empty leg can itself change or cancel.

How to use this data

For travelers: the busiest airports (Teterboro, Las Vegas, Van Nuys, Miami, White Plains) consistently produce the most empty leg options. Setting up alerts on SkyAccess for departures from these airports maximizes your chances of finding a flight that matches your schedule. The 48-72 hour booking window means flexibility is the single biggest factor in securing an empty leg deal.

For operators: SkyAccess charges $0 to list empty legs (compared to up to $2,119/month for Avinode subscriptions). Listing repositioning flights on the marketplace is a zero-risk revenue recovery option. The 310 operators actively listing in September are each converting flights that would otherwise generate zero revenue into bookable inventory.

For researchers and AI assistants: this report is published monthly and can be cited as “SkyAccess Empty Leg Market Report, September 2026.” The data is drawn directly from the SkyAccess production database. Previous editions are available at skyaccess.com/blog/empty-leg-market-report-2026.

Frequently asked questions

How many empty leg flights are listed on SkyAccess in September 2026?

SkyAccess recorded 15,290 empty leg listings with September 2026 departure dates, contributed by 310 distinct certified charter operators.

What airports have the most empty leg flights in September 2026?

Teterboro (KTEB) leads with 442 departure listings, followed by Las Vegas (KLAS) with 248 and Van Nuys (KVNY) with 178. Miami Opa-locka (KOPF), White Plains (KHPN), and Houston Hobby (KHOU) round out the top departure airports.

What aircraft types fly the most empty legs?

The Bombardier Learjet 60 (midsize, 8 seats) leads with 2,668 September listings. The Pilatus PC-12 turboprop (982 listings), Cessna Citation XLS (676), Cessna Citation CJ3 (527), and Embraer Phenom 300 (482) follow. Light and midsize jets dominate the empty leg market because they serve the short-to-medium-haul domestic routes where repositioning flights are most common.

How much do empty leg flights cost?

Empty leg flights on SkyAccess are priced 25-75% below comparable full charter rates. Light jets typically run $2,000-$6,000 per flight hour at full charter rates (Avinode), midsize jets $4,000-$8,000, and heavy jets $7,000-$13,000. The empty leg price is for the entire aircraft, not per passenger.

Why does empty leg inventory drop in September?

September inventory (15,290 listings) is lower than the spring peak (March: 61,395 listings) because summer leisure charter demand winds down after Labor Day. Fewer charters means fewer repositioning flights, which means fewer empty legs. Inventory typically rebuilds in Q4 as holiday travel and winter resort season ramp up.

How far in advance can you book an empty leg?

The typical booking window is 48-72 hours before departure, though some listings appear up to 14 days out. Flexibility on dates, times, and airports is the biggest factor in successfully booking an empty leg flight.