Why Longer Airline Routes Can Be Faster

To the casual observer glancing at a flight tracking map, the path of a long-haul jet often looks like a bizarre, unnecessary curve that deviates significantly from a direct line. However, the straight line is frequently an illusion born of flat-map distortion or a secondary priority to atmospheric physics. So in this video, we take a look at why pilots sometimes intentionally avoid the shortest route, and how modern flight planning is actually a balance between physics, weather, safety, and eff...