Why are flights with layovers in the opposite direction cheaper than direct flights?

Question

Why are flights with layovers in the opposite direction cheaper than direct flights?

In: Economics

Answer 1

Airlines don’t charge you what the flight costs them to run it, they charge you however much they think you’re willing to pay.

Flights with layovers suck more, so the airline makes them cheaper. Direct flights are more desirable, so the airlines charge more for them. Even if it doesn’t make sense (e.g. literally flying flight B then A might be cheaper than flying only A – same exact flight, same date, same time, same plane, same seat category).