The reason for quicker flights while flying eastwards is jet streams. Put simply, these are fast-flowing, narrow air currents in the atmosphere found at high altitudes.
Why does it take longer to fly back to the US from Europe?
there is one main reason and 1 minor reason. Mainly flying from europe to the US is flying against the jet stream (an upper level air current). secondly, you're crossing time zones against the earth's rotation. When we fly back to Europe, we fly home.
Why is it quicker to fly back to the UK?
Why does it take less time to fly back from New York?
As previously mentioned, the primary reason for the difference in travel times with flight direction is due to the jet stream. This is a high-altitude wind that blows from the west to the east across the planet.
What is the shortest flight across the Atlantic?
The twice-weekly Air Canada service between London Heathrow and St John's, the capital of Newfoundland and Labrador, is the flight with the shortest route across the Atlantic, stretching just 2,315 miles and taking under five hours.