For most travellers, nonstop sounds like the only sensible way to cross the Atlantic. Often it is. But a planned technical stop is a normal part of transatlantic business aviation, and for some groups and budgets it is the better choice. The decision comes down to five things: time, cost, comfort, the crew's day and the season.
What a technical stop involves
A technical stop is a landing for fuel, not a change of plan. Passengers usually stay on board or step into the terminal briefly while the aircraft is refuelled, and the flight continues. On the London to New York route the usual stops are Shannon in Ireland, Keflavik in Iceland, and Gander or Goose Bay in Canada. Allow roughly an hour for each, counting the descent, the time on the ground and the climb back to cruising height.
The options side by side
| Plan | Typical aircraft | Total time | Flight-time cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nonstop | Large cabin | 7 h 30–8 h 30 | $63,750–110,500 |
| Nonstop | Super-midsize, longer-range model, light load | 7 h 30–8 h 30 | $48,750–80,750 |
| One stop | Super-midsize | about 9–10 h | $52,000–85,500 |
| Two stops | Midsize | about 10–12 h | $38,250–66,500 |
Two things stand out. The cheapest aircraft per hour is not dramatically cheaper per trip, because it flies for longer. And the gap between a super-midsize that stops and one that does not is smaller than the gap between categories, which is why the super-midsize question so often comes down to the season and the load.
Time
A stop adds about an hour; two stops add two or more, and the second stop on the northern route tends to land you in a long day. If you have a meeting in Manhattan at three, the arithmetic is tight. If you are flying the family out for a summer week, an extra hour may matter much less than the price difference.
Cost
Smaller aircraft cost less per hour, but each stop adds flying time for the descent and climb, plus landing and handling fees. A one-stop super-midsize crossing typically lands between the nonstop super-midsize and the nonstop large cabin options. On a one-way trip, also ask where the aircraft goes afterwards: repositioning an aircraft home across the ocean can matter more than any of the above.
Comfort
Some passengers welcome a chance to stretch their legs halfway; others would rather sleep straight through. Cabin size matters more on a long crossing than on a domestic hop. Super-midsize jets offer a six-foot cabin; large cabin jets add separate seating areas and more room to rest, which counts for a lot on the overnight eastbound flight.
The crew's day
Pilots work within legal limits on duty and flight time. A stop lengthens the day for the crew as well as for you, and a long day with two stops can push against those limits, particularly if the departure slips. Operators plan for this with an additional pilot or, occasionally, an overnight. Your advisor checks that the plan fits the rules before it is quoted.
The season
Winter westbound crossings face the strongest headwinds of the year. A super-midsize that crosses nonstop in July may need a stop in January with the same passengers. If you are flying west in winter and want certainty, a large cabin aircraft is the safer choice. Eastbound, most super-midsize jets cross nonstop in any season.
What actually happens at the stop
A well-run technical stop is quiet and quick. The operator arranges fuel, handling and any required notices in advance, and the crew briefs you on whether to stay aboard or stretch your legs in the terminal. At Shannon, flights sometimes use the stop to complete US border formalities before the crossing, where that service is available on the day. At Keflavik, Gander and Goose Bay, the stop is usually just fuel, a weather update and a fresh flight plan for the next leg.
Weather is the main thing that can complicate a stop. In winter, snow and ice at a northern airport can add de-icing time, and the operator always has an alternative airport in the plan. This is one reason winter westbound trips favour aircraft that can cross without stopping at all.
The full-cabin effect
Range figures assume a modest load. Fill every seat and the hold, and some aircraft can no longer carry their full fuel load without exceeding their maximum takeoff weight, which shortens the distance they can fly. A super-midsize jet that crosses nonstop with four passengers may need a stop with eight. When you request a quote, an accurate passenger count and a sense of the luggage let the operator plan this properly instead of discovering it later.
A simple way to decide
- Must arrive by a set time, westbound in winter: large cabin, nonstop.
- Small group, flexible by an hour, summer: super-midsize, nonstop if the day allows, one stop if not.
- Eight or more passengers: large cabin or ultra long range; a full super-midsize loses range.
- Budget first, time second: ask for a one-stop option alongside the nonstop one.
- Eastbound only: super-midsize nonstop is usually enough.
When the season or the load makes a nonstop plan uncertain, ask for both options and compare the totals.
That is how we quote this route. Where it is relevant, you receive a nonstop option and a one-stop option, each with the planned time, the stop if there is one, and a single all-in price. You can explore the combinations first in the crossing guide.