Stage length is the term used to describe the length of the flight from take-off to landing in a single leg. The stage length can directly affect a charter flight cost. This unit of measurement is taken into account when determining an airline or a charter\u2019s cost effectiveness.<\/p>\n
If an aircraft has multiple stops along its route, then it would have multiple stage lengths. Commercial airlines use the stage length term more frequently since the majority of their flight schedules include more than one stop. Charter flights are typically flown with only the destination in mind. Besides reducing the charter flight cost, passengers prefer direct flights that don\u2019t include one or more layovers.<\/p>\n
Typically, longer flights with no layovers tend to equal lower costs. This is because there are fewer take-offs and landings. To determine the average stage length of each flight, an airline or charter company will divide the sum of departures by the amount of nautical miles flown.<\/p>\n
By reducing the number of departures, an airline or charter can reduce fuel costs. Airlines and charters that tend to cater to transcontinental flights typically report lower fuel costs and higher savings.<\/p>\n