Empty leg flights from Hilton Head

Hilton Head Island is a leisure-only private aviation market with a strong seasonal bias and a specific demographic: retirees and second-home owners from the Northeast and Midwest, plus golf travelers who come for the resort courses and the RBC Heritage PGA Tour event each April. The island generates virtually no corporate charter demand. Every private jet that arrives delivered someone on vacation or on their way to a golf trip; every aircraft that departs is either repositioning or carrying someone home.

The outbound empty leg pattern runs in two windows. The first is Sunday afternoon and Monday after weekend golf trips from Charlotte, Atlanta, and the Southeast. Aircraft delivering regional guests Friday or Saturday leave Sunday or Monday empty for the 30-60 minute flight back to their home base. The second is the spring-to-summer transition in April and May, when RBC Heritage week and the shoulder season bring a mix of golf travelers and seasonal residents from the Northeast.

Hilton Head's airport limitation defines the market. KHXD has a 4,300-foot runway that restricts operations to turboprops and light jets at normal weights. Any group requiring a midsize or larger aircraft routes through Savannah (KSAV), 45 miles southwest via US-278. That split between Hilton Head and Savannah creates two distinct arrival populations and two separate sets of empty legs.

Hilton Head Airport (KHXD) on the island handles turboprops and light jets. The 4,300-foot runway limits operations by aircraft type and weight. Island Jet Center operates the single FBO. Ground time to the main resort areas (South Beach, Sea Pines) is 15-20 minutes; to Palmetto Dunes, 10-15 minutes. The airport's proximity to the island's interior makes it the most convenient option when aircraft performance allows. Ramp space is modest and fills during RBC Heritage week.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (KSAV) in Savannah, Georgia, is 45 miles southwest of Hilton Head via US-278 and the bridge to the mainland. Signature and Sheltair both operate FBOs at Savannah. The airport handles heavy jets, ultra-long-range aircraft, and international arrivals with customs clearance. Drive time from KSAV to Hilton Head's north end is 45 minutes; to Sea Pines at the southern tip, 60-70 minutes. For groups in midsize or larger jets willing to trade proximity for aircraft capability, KSAV is the standard alternative. Savannah's FBOs run full service year-round.

Empty legs departing from Hilton Head currently range from $3,500 to $3,500. The average listed price sits around $3,500. Broken down by aircraft: midsize jets averaging $3,500.

Popular routes with current pricing: Jacksonville, FL at $3,500. Route availability rotates as operators reposition aircraft, so today's routes may differ from next week's.

We track 16 active legs from this area. 1 have published prices; the rest are quote-on-request. Operators often add pricing closer to the departure date, so checking back frequently or setting an alert catches deals as they appear.