Thanks to recent jet streams over America’s northern states, it was possible to fly between Los Angeles and New York in fewer than four hours.
On Feb. 17, United flight 415 traveled from Los Angeles International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport in just 226 minutes, taking off at 11:28 p.m. Pacific time and landing at 6:14 a.m. Eastern time.
Faster flight times, including this recent flight, are typically caused by west-to-east jet streams. At such high altitudes, these streams, usually occurring during the U.S. winter, can make it easier for jets to fly at faster speeds. The recent lack of major storms may also be a contributing factor to the increase in jet streams.
For airlines, faster flight times mean savings not only in the amount of jet fuel released by the plane, but also in terms of hourly employee salaries.
The fastest recorded flight time for this route took place in October 1996, when the transcontinental journey was completed in just 201 minutes.
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