Glossary

Minimum Flight Time

Minimum flight time, also called a daily minimum, is the least number of flight hours an operator will charge per day regardless of how short the actual flight is.

Why it matters

Why minimum flight time matters

It explains why very short flights can feel expensive. A thirty minute hop may still be billed at a one or two hour minimum, since committing the aircraft and crew has a cost.

Cost

How it affects cost

If your flight is shorter than the daily minimum, you are billed for the minimum. This makes short hops cost more per hour and is a key reason short flights look pricey.

Example

A quick example

An operator sets a two hour daily minimum. Your forty minute flight is still charged as two hours, because the aircraft and crew are committed to your day either way.

Related terms

Other terms to know

Common questions

Why do operators set a daily minimum?

Because committing an aircraft and crew to your day has a cost whether you fly thirty minutes or two hours, so a minimum protects the operator.

Does the minimum make short flights expensive?

Yes. A short flight billed at the daily minimum has a high effective hourly cost, which is why short hops are about convenience more than hourly value.

Last reviewed June 2026. Estimates use planning assumptions that we revisit periodically.