Deadhead
Deadhead is the operational term for a leg flown without passengers, whether repositioning to pick you up, returning to base after dropping you off, or moving crew to an aircraft. It is the same phenomenon that produces empty legs, viewed from the operator's cost side rather than the sales side. Most Part 135 and AOC operators bill deadhead time at their standard hourly rate, and their crews must count it toward duty limits. When comparing quotes, ask how many deadhead hours are included; a lower hourly rate can hide more of them, and a slightly older aircraft already at your airport is often the better value.