At present, various modes of transportation are available on land, but only airplanes can fly in the sky. Passengers who have traveled on a plane may feel that the speed of the aircraft is very slow when looking out of the window.
However, this is due to the reference object chosen. In reality, the speed of an aircraft is extremely fast. Interestingly, in the previous century, planes were faster than they are now.
In the past decade, flight technology has continued to develop, but the speed of aircraft seems to be "slowing down." It has been found that British Airways has been publishing flight plans with longer flight times in order to improve on-time performance.
This practice has become a global trend to "pad" flight time to avoid compensating passengers for flight delays, causing them to face uncomfortable situations such as waiting on the plane or being stranded with no assistance.
When comparing the flight time between today and 40 years ago, one will be surprised to find that despite advances in engine technology, the flight duration of many routes has actually increased. Why is this so?
According to a survey conducted by the US business insider website, in 1995, it took one hour and 15 minutes to fly from London to Edinburgh. However, now it takes one hour and 25 minutes.
Similarly, in 1995, it took 55 minutes to fly from Barcelona, Spain, to Madrid, the capital of the country, whereas now it takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, which is 20 minutes longer. In 1973, it took 2 hours and 37 minutes to fly from New York to Chicago in the United States. However, now it takes 3 hours and 50 minutes, which is an additional hour and 13 minutes.
Several factors contribute to the increase in flight time, including:
1. Altitude and speed restrictions: The aircraft must fly within a specific altitude and speed range, considering air resistance and fuel efficiency. If the weather is inclement or there is heavy air traffic, the aircraft may be forced to reduce altitude or speed, resulting in a longer flight duration.
2. Changes in routes: Political factors, weather changes, flight capacity, and the number of aircraft may cause changes in routes. In certain circumstances, routing may need to be changed to avoid air congestion or flying over certain areas, resulting in longer flight times.
3. Safety inspection and security procedures: Due to the threat of terrorism, airlines must enforce stricter safety inspection and security procedures. These procedures require passengers to spend more time before boarding the plane, which may cause flight delays.
4. Aircraft maintenance and cleaning: To ensure safety and sanitation, aircraft must be regularly maintained and cleaned. If a flight needs to be repaired or cleaned, it may be delayed or canceled.
5. Air Traffic Control: As the number of flights increases, air traffic control becomes busier. Flight times may be extended if air traffic controllers need to dispatch aircraft or if certain areas are closed due to weather or other reasons.
Therefore, the lengthening of flight times may be due to a combination of several factors. While airlines attempt to avoid flight delay compensation by extending flight times, passengers may still face prolonged wait times and other inconveniences.
