Saturday, January 25, 2025 British Airways’ flight to Heathrow reached impressive speeds, nearing subsonic records. But how does it compare to the speed of sound? Here’s what you need to know. On Wednesday, January 22, British Airways flight 274, originally scheduled on a Boeing 747, took off aboard an Airbus A350 and reached a remarkable ground speed of 814 mph, cutting 45 minutes from its usual Las Vegas to Heathrow journey, according to flight radar data.
The current subsonic speed record stands at 835 mph, while the typical cruising speed for commercial aircraft is around 600 mph. Jet streams, powerful winds blowing at altitudes of about 30,000 feet, play a crucial role in this speed boost. These winds, flowing from west to east across the Atlantic, are harnessed by airlines to conserve fuel on transatlantic flights.
As a result, flying eastward is generally faster than the reverse journey, though passengers may encounter more turbulence when flying with these winds. The subsonic speed record was previously set in 2020 on a New York to London flight, which completed the journey in just 4 hours and 56 minutes—an impressive 2 hours and 4 minutes faster than the usual flight time. Experts suggest that another record may be within reach soon due to the unusually strong jet stream over the North Atlantic at present.
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