This might just be a US thing, I don’t know. But it seems like if I want to fly somewhere, the cheapest option is to choose the nonstop flight. If I pick a flight with a layover it always costs more.
I don’t think it used to be this way! Flights with stops and layovers were cheaper because of the inconvenience. What’s the point of picking one if they’re more expensive?
I assume it takes more fuel to take off twice than to maintain flight after taking off once. Not an expert by any means.
Not only that, you need to consider the following:
Airport fees, airlines pay fees to the airport to use a runway to land and take off, then you have parking fees, passenger service fees and more.
You also need to consider that the crew have mandatory rest periods, and if they won’t make it to the next airport in time, then they can’t take off again, and hotels for the pax arearranged or a replacement crew flown in this costs money.