What does a layover refer to in aviation terminology?

In aviation terminology, a layover typically refers to the time spent at a hotel or other accommodation between flights, especially when a passenger has a connecting flight that they must wait for before continuing their journey. During a layover, passengers may have the opportunity to leave the airport and explore the area or rest at their hotel, depending on the length of the layover. This term is especially relevant in the context of multi-leg journeys where itineraries involve changing planes at intermediate airports.

When considering the other choices, they do not accurately capture the meaning of a layover. The time spent on the plane between flights pertains to the duration of a flight segment, while the scheduled route of a flight describes the planned path from origin to destination. A break period for flight crew members refers to scheduled downtime for crew during a duty period, which is not the same as the layover experienced by passengers. Thus, understanding layovers as intervals spent away from the airport between flights helps clarify its role in travel itineraries.