Flight time really is getting longer – here’s why

If your flight times seem extremely long, that’s because they are.

A New York Times analysis of Bureau of Transportation Statistics data found that the average scheduled time from New York’s JFK Airport to Los Angeles has increased 23 minutes since 1995. Overall, there has been an increase in average travel time of 18 minutes.

But even though travel times have increased, flights land on time, or sometimes even early. The key here is for airlines to extend their scheduled flight durations longer than the actual flight duration, according to the Times.

This is often due to a practice called “stuffing”.

“Overbooked flights have been around for some time and have been a practice for all airlines for decades,” Sabrina Childress-Miller, a former Chicago-based flight attendant with Spirit Airlines and former communications chair for the Association of Flight Attendants of Flight. , said Reader’s Digest.

“The average passenger would not notice the minutes added to their flight time, as they are focused on getting on the plane and getting to their destination on time on their ticket.”

This provides leeway in case of possible minor delays – and also helps improve statistics to be reported to the Bureau of Transport Statistics, which strengthens an airline’s reputation.

“The fact is that extending scheduled flight durations can improve an airline’s on-time performance record, help avoid customer dissatisfaction due to delays, and allow flights to arrive early or on time more often,” said Childress-Miller. outlet.

“The purpose is to provide a buffer in schedules to account for potential delays or disruptions while maintaining a positive image of punctuality.â€

Flights can also be delayed due to traffic congestion both on the runway and in the air. Airlines and air traffic control work together to coordinate a “carefully designed” flight plan that ensures safety at all stages of flight.

“The flight crew may receive a message during the flight to slow down. Having extra “top-up” time ensures that the average passenger is unaware [air traffic control] practices and other security measures [and they] Don’t feel the effects of a slowed flight, Childress-Miller said.

Meanwhile, according to a recent report from the University of Cambridge, experts and scientists are pushing for longer flight times, suggesting that planes should fly slower and extend their flight time in order to reduce carbon emissions.

While this measure would make flying more sustainable and environmentally friendly, the authors note that it would also have a “potential negative impact on airline productivity and passenger acceptance, especially on longer flights.”

The report also proposed replacing older aircraft with more up-to-date models and ensuring that the aircraft are used to fly the distances for which they were designed.

But implementing these proposals would be a “system-wide process change”, said Professor Rob Miller.

“Airlines can’t do it alone, neither can manufacturers or airports. It’s not that no one wants to. The sheer complexity of the system makes it very difficult.

If airplanes were designed differently in the future, there could be new airplanes specifically designed for shorter flights of 2,000 kilometers, or just under 1,300 miles.

“Airplanes that are designed to fly longer ranges are heavier and therefore less efficient,” Miller said. “Designing an aircraft for real-world travel that will operate will have a fuel burn benefit and make it more efficient.”