minimum connecting time
The amount of time, agreed in advance between airlines and airport authorities, that is considered sufficient for a passenger to make a connection between an arriving flight and a departing flight on the same ticket.
Minimum connecting time: the shortest safe layover between flights
Minimum connecting time (MCT) is the shortest interval an airline and airport guarantee will allow between your arrival at a hub and departure on your next flight when you hold a single ticket. The clock typically starts when the aircraft door opens and stops when boarding closes on the connecting flight. This is not a guarantee that you will make the connection, but rather the airline's commitment that the ground operation can physically support the transfer within that window.
MCT values vary by airport, airline, and connection type. A domestic-to-domestic connection at a major US hub might require 30 to 45 minutes; international-to-international connections commonly need 90 to 120 minutes. Some airports publish separate minimums for connections involving terminals that require trains or extended walks. Small regional airports may have much shorter MCTs because fewer passengers and simpler facilities reduce handling time. The values are negotiated annually between each airline's ground operations team and the airport authority, then published in airline manuals and reservation systems.
The MCT accounts for several mechanical steps: deplaning from the arriving aircraft (10 to 15 minutes), transit to the connecting gate (5 to 40 minutes depending on airport layout), baggage handling if checked through (20 to 40 minutes), and boarding procedures on the departing flight (10 to 20 minutes). The reserve margin built into these calculations reflects variability in aircraft pushback delays, customs or immigration queues for international transfers, and gate availability. If actual ground handling takes longer than expected, passengers arrive at the next gate after boarding has closed.
Where MCT breaks down
Misconnections occur when actual ground time exceeds MCT because of late aircraft arrival, equipment failures, or congestion in terminals or baggage systems. Airlines are usually not liable for missed connections when MCT has been met, even if passenger layover time was very short. However, if you miss a connection because the first flight was delayed and the airline does not rebook you immediately, compensation obligations vary by regulation: EU261 requires care and rebooking for EU carriers; US domestic law offers less protection. Baggage handling failures, where luggage does not transfer to the connecting flight, occur in roughly 1 to 5 per 1,000 transfers at major hubs, partly because checked bags must physically move between aircraft within the MCT window.
MCT is distinct from scheduled connection time, which is what you see on your ticket and typically includes an extra buffer for passenger comfort. The term is also specific to through-ticketed connections; if you buy two separate tickets, you assume all responsibility for making the connection and face no airline obligation if you miss the flight.