A ferry flight is a term used to refer to a flight that doesn't carry any paying passengers. Usually, ferry flights are planes traveling to a base for maintenance, repairs, or operational purposes.

In aviation, a flight operated without any passengers is most commonly called a "Ferry Flight." These flights are primarily used to reposition an aircraft from one airport to another for maintenance, to begin a new scheduled route, or to return to a hub after a mechanical delay. In the private aviation world of 2026, these are often referred to as "Empty Legs." Charter companies frequently sell these empty legs at massive discounts (up to 75% off) to cover their fuel costs while moving the jet to pick up its next high-paying client. Another term sometimes used in the industry is a "Deadhead" flight, though this more accurately refers to when an airline moves its own crew members (pilots or attendants) as passengers on a flight to position them for their next working shift. Whether it's a "ghost flight" to maintain takeoff slots or a "positioning flight" for a private jet, the goal is always to move the hardware without the weight (and revenue) of a full manifest.