Why do flights like Australia to Los Angeles take a long route across other continents when they could just fly east and make a shorter trip?
I don’t know why people have this strange belief that flights from Australia to the Americas don’t fly across the Pacific. Having flown from LA to Brisbane once, I can safely confirm that the flight did precisely that. OK, so that’s flying westward, but what about the opposite direction? Why do flights from Australia to Los Angeles take a long route across other continents when they could just fly east and make a shorter trip?
The answer lies in the science of aviation and the prevailing winds. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind this phenomenon and how it affects flight routes. We will also discuss the benefits and drawbacks of these routes and how they impact the travel experience.
Table of Contents
Prevailing winds and flight routes
To understand why flights from Australia to Los Angeles take a long route across other continents, we need to understand the concept of prevailing winds. Prevailing winds are the winds that blow in a particular direction most of the time in a given region. In the case of the Southern Hemisphere, the prevailing winds blow from west to east, while in the Northern Hemisphere, they blow from east to west.
These prevailing winds have a significant impact on flight routes. Airlines try to take advantage of these winds to reduce fuel consumption and flight time. When flying from west to east, planes can fly with the prevailing winds, which can increase their speed and reduce their fuel consumption. However, when flying from east to west, planes have to fly against the prevailing winds, which can slow them down and increase their fuel consumption.
The Great Circle Route
The Great Circle Route is the shortest distance between two points on a sphere. In the case of flights from Australia to Los Angeles, the Great Circle Route would take planes across the Pacific Ocean. However, because of the prevailing winds, airlines choose to take a longer route across other continents, known as the “Southern Route.”
The Southern Route takes planes from Australia to New Zealand, then across the South Pacific to South America, before flying north to Los Angeles. This route allows planes to take advantage of the prevailing winds and reduce their flight time and fuel consumption.
The benefits and drawbacks of the Southern Route
The Southern Route has several benefits for airlines and passengers. Firstly, it allows airlines to reduce their fuel consumption, which can save them money and reduce their carbon footprint. Secondly, it can reduce flight congestion.
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