Location, location, location. An airliner cruising at altitude may have
to
be placed in sequence hundreds of miles from the destination. A short
hauler might be doing a visual approach to a nontowered field.

What constitutes an "ATC service" in your mind?

Once he is in the system, who would need to talk to him? Nobody, until it
is time for him to come down.

The short haul commercial flights are normally being provided separation on
an IFR flight plan, no? Every time he departs, he has to be put into the
system, guided up to altitude, then talked to, for being let down, then
approach control to land. Every time, right? Sounds like one short haul
guy may be using nearly 3 times as much services, compared to the guy flying
3 times as far, with one flight plan.
--
Jim in NC