What is a 'thru passenger'?

A 'thru passenger' refers to a passenger who remains onboard the aircraft during an intermediate stop, meaning they are not required to deplane and will continue on the same flight to their final destination. This is a common practice on connecting flights, where the aircraft makes a stop at an intermediate airport to allow other passengers to board or disembark, yet some travelers stay on the plane to travel to their next leg. This allows for smoother transitions between flights for these passengers, as they have already checked in for their entire journey and do not need to go through the process again at the layover point.

Understanding the concept of thru passengers is essential for airline operations, as it impacts boarding procedures, luggage handling, and communication with ground staff at intermediate airports.