A direct flight is an airline itinerary where the aircraft makes at least one stop to drop off or pick up passengers, but the flight number remains the same and continuing passengers usually stay on board. Airlines use this scheduling to serve smaller markets on the way to a major hub while marketing it as a single continuous journey.
Heard on the job
It's a direct flight to Tokyo, but we've a one-hour layover in Anchorage for fuel and crew change.
Insider tip
Passengers frequently confuse direct flights with nonstop flights. A direct flight can still involve sitting on the tarmac at an intermediate airport.
Do not mix it up with
- Nonstop: A nonstop flight goes from origin to destination with no stops, whereas a direct flight makes stops but keeps the same flight number.