The CEO of a private aviation company explains the ’empty leg’ trick that can make chartering jets cheaper [Video]

While flying private is largely reserved for the rich and famous, FlyJets, an aviation-charter marketplace, says it can offer the average traveler a cheaper way to experience the luxury.

FlyJets’ CEO, Jessica Fisher, told Business Insider that the startup doesn’t own or operate planes but works like an Airbnb for private aviation. Its core business is serving as a middleman between aircraft providers and customers to secure and schedule charters.

Within that is a cheaper alternative Fisher calls “fly empty,” which she said could cut the cost of charters by nearly half. It’s the latest way aviation companies are trying to make private flying more affordable.

Fisher said these charter aircraft might otherwise fly “empty legs” without passengers to return planes and crew to a home base after dropping off a client. Charter companies sometimes charge for a round trip regardless of whether anyone’s on board, so it’s cheaper to find another paying party for that empty leg of …