Posted on 01/19/2024 7:54:47 PM PST by Red Badger
The nonstop route between New York (JFK) and London Heathrow (LHR) is one of the busiest air travel routes in the world. Dozens of airlines from both sides of the pond offer daily flights (directly or through codeshare agreements) between the two airports. The coveted route between the two metropolises is operated using some of the best airliners in the world.
Simple Flying compiled a list of five jets that have flown the route in the fastest duration. The flight durations in the list are based on typical flight times (not block times) as estimated by FlightAware and Flightradar24.
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#5 Airbus A380
Typical Flight Duration: 6 hours 30 minutes
Maximum Speed Mach 0.89, 510 knots (585 mph, 945 km/h)
Range 8,000 NM (9,200 miles, 14,800 km)
Passenger Capacity 575 (typical configuration), 853 (maximum)
Crew 25
The world’s largest passenger aircraft is not only mighty in terms of size but is also one of the fastest subsonic jets. The eastbound route from JFK to LHR typically takes 6 hours and 45 minutes on the Airbus A380. Though not currently on schedule, British Airways operates its quadjet A380 on the route.
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#4 Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Typical Flight Duration: 6 hours 15 minutes
Maximum Speed Mach 0.90, 515 knots (595 mph, 955 km/h)
Range 7,650 NM (8,800 miles, 14,150 km)
Passenger Capacity 290 (typical configuration), 406 (maximum) on 787-9
Crew 16
Number four on our list is the fuel-efficient Boeing 787 Dreamliner, with a typical flight time of 6 hours and 15 minutes between the city pair. The latest widebody from Boeing is proving to be a workhorse for many international airlines. A variety of airlines have deployed their 787 jets on the JFK-LHR route.
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and American Airlines fly their Dreamliners on multiple daily rotations on the route. While all airlines schedule a block time of 6 hours and 45 minutes, data from Flightradar24 shows that typical flight times range from 6 hours to 6 hours and 20 minutes.
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#3 Boeing 747-400
Typical Flight Duration: 6 hours 5 minutes
Maximum Speed Mach 0.92, 525 knots (610 mph, 975 km/h)
Range 7,670 NM (8,825 miles, 14,200 km)
Passenger Capacity 416 (typical configuration)
Crew 18
One of the most iconic jets, the Boeing 747-400, was once a regular operator of the route in service with many airlines. The aircraft can cover the distance in 6 hours and 5 minutes. Until the start of the global pandemic, British Airways deployed its jumbo-jets on the popular route. With a capacity of over 400 passengers, the aircraft has a range of 7,670 NM (14,200 km).
The latest version of the jumbo jet, the Boeing 747-8, is larger and more fuel efficient. However, only three passenger carriers use the aircraft, including Lufthansa, Air China, and Korean Air. While the 747-8 is not deployed on the JFK-LHR route, the aircraft’s top speed is comparable to that of the 747-400.
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#2 Cessna Citation X+
Typical Flight Duration: 5 hours and 50 minutes
Maximum Speed Mach 0.93 (540 knots, 620 mph, 993 km/h)
Range 3,500 NM (4,025 miles, 6,450 km)
Passenger Capacity 12
Crew 3
The Cessna Citation X+ is one of the fastest business jets in the world. With a top speed of Mach 0.93 (540 knots, 993 km/h), the aircraft can fly the route in under six hours. The jet is primarily used by companies like NetJets, XOJET, and AirX Charter for a variety of private aircraft ownership and charter services.
The shortest distance between the two cities is approximately 3,000 NM (3,450 miles, 5,525 km). With a capacity of up to 12 passengers, the Cessna Citation X+’s range is just enough to cross the distance. Private jet charter services advertise their jets based on the distance they can cover, and JFK to LHR can definitely be a selling point for business travelers.
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#1 Concorde
Typical Flight Duration: 2 hours 55 minutes
Maximum Speed Mach 2.04 (1,180 knots, 1,350 mph, 2,180 km/h)
Range 3,900 NM (4,490 miles, 7,225 km)
Passenger Capacity 100 (typical configuration), 128 (maximum)
Crew 9
It comes as no surprise that Concorde tops the list of fastest flights between the two destinations. The supersonic jet could fly the distance in just under three hours, over 50% less time than competitors. The JFK-LHR route was the most flown route for Concorde. British Airways and Air France offered scheduled services between the two cities.
With a typical seating capacity of 100 passengers, Concorde’s operational range was just enough to cover the distance. Flying twice the speed of sound, the type could achieve and maintain a Mach 2 supersonic cruise at 60,000 ft (18,300 m) altitude.
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About The Author
Dr. Omar Memon
(688 Articles Published)
Writer - Omar is an aviation enthusiast who holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering. With numerous years of technical and research experience under his belt, Omar aims to focus on research-based aviation practices.
AVIATION HISTORY PING!.....................
The Concorde was way ahead of its time. But it was expensive to maintain, noisy and could field enough passengers for it be viable. Round trip transatlantic ticket was $12,000.
could NOT field enough passengers to be economically viable.
SR-71
The SR-71 also holds the "speed over a recognized course" record for flying from New York to London—distance 3,461.53 miles (5,570.79 km), 1,806.964 miles per hour (2,908.027 km/h), and an elapsed time of 1 hour 54 minutes and 56.4 seconds—set on 1 September 1974, while flown by USAF pilot James V. Sullivan and Noel F. Widdifield, reconnaissance systems officer (RSO).
Need to solve the sonic boom anomaly to make commercial supersonic flight viable.
There’s nothing anomalous about sonic booms, we know what causes them, when they will occur. It is a well documented phenomenon.
^^
needs to be solved otherwise you’re limiting your flights destinations
The Concorde cost $6,000 for that flight...
saw Concorde take off from JFK once, impressive...
Physics: It’s THE LAW!
I spend most my time in Hawaii.
I’ a resident of Washington state.
It takes 6 hours more or less to fly
each way back-and forth.
not counting the Airport and TSA BS.
I’m not sure why making that trip in half the time
offsets the Airport and TSA BS.
If I could get an aircraft I could treat like a personal car and could just jump in
and go where ever I want in a timely manner that might be worth the money.
i saw this flight as I lived in Aldershot England a town next door to Farnborough where it landed for the airshow there.
How long does it take the International Space Station to cover that distance?
Yup.
I remember my Bo’s doing a round trip in one due o a last minute emergency meeting. He was quite impressed
Boss
> Need to solve the sonic boom anomaly to make commercial supersonic flight viable.<
The solution is there. The technology would be scalable to larger airplanes. How they’re going to do that with electric engines is beyond me. ;=)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i694GB2Q5c
If they can soften the boom, and have also corridors available over land to allow supersonic flight, that would basically solve the issue.
Back in the day, one got a charge out of a sonic boom. At least I did. They were it seems to me almost daily.
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