Do empty planes still fly?

A further 35,000 commercial flights have operated almost empty since 2019, with fewer than 10% of seats filled, according to analysis of data from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). This makes a total of about 40,000 ?ghost flights?.



Yes, empty or near-empty planes—often called "Ghost Flights"—still fly in 2026 for several regulatory and logistical reasons. The most common reason is the "Use It or Lose It" slot rule; at congested airports like London Heathrow or New York JFK, an airline must operate a certain percentage of its scheduled flights (often 80%) to keep its valuable landing slots for the next season. Additionally, airlines must frequently reposition aircraft—flying a plane empty from one city to another so it is in the right place for its next fully-booked journey. Other "empty" flights occur to meet maintenance requirements or for crew training and licensing. While 2026 environmental groups criticize these flights for their carbon footprint, airlines argue they are necessary for global connectivity and to avoid losing billions in asset value associated with prime airport access.

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The 80:20 rule means airlines need to use their take-off slots at least 80% of the time in order to retain them. A justified non-use provision will be retained to prevent airlines flying ghost flights.

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