What is a direct flight characterized by?

A direct flight is characterized by having one or more scheduled stops during the journey but maintaining the same flight number throughout the flights. This means that passengers do not have to change planes at these stops, which differentiates it from a non-stop flight that has no layovers at all.

While a non-stop flight travels directly from the point of origin to the final destination without halting, a direct flight might still land at intermediate airports before reaching its end point. This option conveys the concept of a direct flight effectively as it represents the understanding that passengers may experience layovers.

The other choices do not accurately define a direct flight. For instance, a flight that has changed aircraft is more accurately termed a connecting flight, and a cargo-specific flight focuses solely on the transportation of goods rather than passengers.