Empty leg flights from Orlando

Orlando's private aviation market doesn't match its reputation as a leisure destination. Theme parks draw 60 million visitors per year, but the people who arrive at Orlando Executive Airport (KORL) are mostly corporate travelers, not families.

The corporate drivers are defense and simulation technology. Lockheed Martin, Boeing's mission systems group, and Northrop Grumman maintain significant operations in the Orlando area. The University of Central Florida and the Institute for Simulation and Training make Orlando one of the top US cities for defense simulation. Those companies run regular charter programs between Orlando and Washington, Baltimore, Huntsville, and West Coast defense contractors.

Conventions are the second engine. The Orange County Convention Center is the second-largest convention venue in the country. Medical, pharmaceutical, and healthcare conferences alternate between Orlando and Las Vegas throughout the year, and those events drive predictable waves of corporate charter arrivals. Weeks when a major convention is in town produce the clearest empty leg patterns as operators reposition aircraft after dropping off attendees.

The leisure side contributes at a different scale. Disney's corporate operations, Universal's executive travel, and film and television productions based in the area add charter volume throughout the year. Those bookings tend to run on shorter notice than convention travel, which creates occasional opportunistic empty legs on the LA, New York, and Chicago corridors.

Orlando Executive Airport (KORL) is 5 miles east of downtown Orlando and the primary business aviation airport for the metro area. Sheltair and Showalter Flying Service both operate FBOs there. KORL handles aircraft up to large-cabin heavy size on its 7,000-foot runway. The airport sits close to the Orange County Convention Center (about 5 miles) and without commercial traffic, ground operations are fast. Most convention and corporate travelers default to KORL over Orlando International.

Orlando Sanford International Airport (KSFB) in Sanford, 25 miles north of downtown, is the second private aviation option. It has two runways (9,600 feet and 5,000 feet) and handles any size aircraft. Sanford sees a mix of private charter, charter airline, and cargo traffic. It's useful for travelers going to Daytona or Space Coast-area destinations, or those arriving in the northern suburbs. The longer runways at Sanford accommodate heavy jets that might be constrained at KORL.

Orlando International Airport (MCO) handles private aircraft through FBOs on the north and south sides of the field, but it's one of the busiest airports in the country during tourist season. Most private aviation operators use KORL or KSFB unless the passenger needs a direct commercial connection.

Empty legs departing from Orlando currently range from $3,700 to $16,600. The average listed price sits around $10,025. Broken down by aircraft: midsize jets averaging $9,900, super-midsize jets averaging $16,600, unknowns averaging $3,700.

Popular routes with current pricing: Dallas, TX at $15,600; Fort Lauderdale, FL at $16,600; Miami, FL at $4,200. Route availability rotates as operators reposition aircraft, so today's routes may differ from next week's.

We track 37 active legs from this area. 4 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.