Why Do Pilots Sometimes Circle Around the City Before Landing?

Question

What accounts for the multiple circling of the airport by some commercial aircraft before their final approach?

Answer 1

This act is referred to as the straight-in approach or the holding pattern. It is employed for the regulation of aeronautical movement, in particular at congested airports, to avert crashes between one aircraft and another. The airspace can be viewed as a highly populated road where every aeroplane is in a distinct section. If aircraft have to merge in order to land, they can be given a hold so that they do not land out of order, thereby creating a safe landing sequence.

Comments

In Washington DC, there is a no fly zone, so planes have to fly in a certain area when leaving/arriving at Washington National airport

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Bright side made a mistake they call it the holding only holding nothing else it is meant for you to wait for other planes just the case of SQ319

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Holding can also be called the traffic pattern