Passenger jets have become a lot more advanced in the past few decades. 2011 saw the introduction of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner which was smoother, safer, quieter and far more efficient than the other passenger jets around that time. Since then newer models like 737 MAX and Airbus A320neo and many other have been added to airline fleets. The recent flight of a 737 Dreamliner from JFK Airport, New York to London Gatwick was completed in five hours and thirteen minutes, three whole minutes faster that the best time set in 2015 by British Airways. Although record breaking feats are being conducted by airlines, the flight durations of most flights have not changed a bit. In fact. Telegraph Travel reporters state that the journey time has increased by 50%.
The Heathrow to Dublin route is considered to be the busiest international route in Europe. In 1996, this route was covered within 60 to 74 minutes. However, 22 years later, the same journey takes 75 to 89 minutes, while some airlines take almost 90 minutes even. Although the airline industry denies this fact, these additional minutes added to the journey time is referred to as schedule padding by the experts in the industry. These minutes are added to help the airlines improve their punctuality. By overestimating the flight time, airlines are able to turn their tardy service into an on time one
Frequent fliers have often witnessed the situation where they are left waiting for over thirty minutes on the runway, yet still, manage to land on time at their destination airport. Telegraph Travel looked into four routes and has uncovered the following information:
· Flights between Heathrow and JFK used to be around 7 hours and 30 minutes in 1996, but it has increased to 8 hours and 30 minutes in the current day.
· Flight duration between Gatwick and Palma used to take only 2 hours or 2 hours and 15 minutes back in 1996. However, today the same flight takes almost 2 hours and 30 minutes and sometimes even more.
· The flight duration between London and Edinburgh was 1 hour and 15 minutes in 1996, yet it is 1 hour and 25 minutes at present.
· Flight durations have increased form 2 hour in 1996 to 1 hour and 20 minutes currently.
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