There’s a difference between ground speed and speed in the air (indicated air speed, essentially the speed of the plane in relation to the air around it).
The jet stream explainedThe jet stream is a “core of strong winds around five to seven miles above the Earth’s surface, blowing from west to east,” as the UK’s Met Office describes it.
Seven miles above the planet’s surface is equivalent to around 37,000 feet – which means that aircraft at cruising altitude slip easily into the jet stream.
“This increase in the temperature gradient is amplifying the speed of the jet stream, which is driven by temperature differences.
Either way, these planes are saving time and money.”The jet stream is making planes go around 200mph faster than average.
Persons:
NASA –, Storm Ciaran, that’s, Sara Tonks, ”, Derek Van Dam, Richard Branson
Organizations:
CNN, NASA, Concorde, Emirates, American Airlines, Delta, KLM, UK’s Met, Storm, Virgin Atlantic, Boeing, Virgin, British Airways Boeing
Locations:
Europe, Dallas, Dubai, Newfoundland, JFK, Heathrow, Los Angeles, London, 760mph, Miami, Amsterdam, ”, United States, 801mph, 560mph, 825mph, New York