A stopover is a scheduled interruption in an air traveller’s itinerary, typically exceeding 24 hours, that allows passengers to disembark, explore a transit destination, and resume their journey at a later date. In the context of airlines and aviation, stopovers serve both operational and strategic purposes: they help carriers manage flight schedules efficiently, optimise aircraft utilisation, and create opportunities to market secondary gateways as standalone destinations. For travellers and tourism professionals, a stopover can transform a routine connection into an immersive mini-vacation, unlocking local experiences, driving regional tourism revenue, and enhancing the overall value proposition of multi-leg voyages.
Example: “After booking her European itinerary, Maria added a two-night stopover in Reykjavik to marvel at the Northern Lights before continuing on to Copenhagen.”
Synonyms: layover, transit stop, connecting flight break, overnight layover
