Why Does It Take Longer to Fly West?

The reason airplane flights take longer when traveling west is because of the different speeds of rotation on Earth. The rotational velocity of Earth decreases as one goes from the Equator to the poles. This means that a place on the Equator will experience higher rotational velocity than a place on the poles. Therefore, it takes longer to fly west than it does to fly east. Jet streams are high-speed winds that flow from west to east at altitudes of 5-7 miles above the Earth's surface. These winds can reach speeds of up to 200 mph and play a significant role in regulating global climate. When airplanes fly with these jet streams, they take less time to reach their destination, as the fast-blowing winds effectively "piggyback" them, saving both time and fuel.