Daily Mail

[number8]

In today's Daily Mail there was a question about the longest scheduled non-stop flight possible, the answer being Singapore Airlines over the Pacific to Los Angeles, which will take 16 hours. However, the return flight takes 18 hours and 20 minutes. Why the 2h 20m difference?

[geofbob]

Almost certainly, the prevailing winds. Flights over the Atlantic also have different timings each way - I think shorter on the westward leg (but if not then its the eastward!)

[darth vader]

It is true that it is to do with the jetstreams (global air streams) but not so simplistic to understand why as this site explains http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/atmosphere/q0
117.shtml

[number8]

Thank you.

[johntheplamf]

Surely the longest scheduled flight would have been the flight to the moon, Which didn't happen if you ask me

[jenstar]

Then again, hot-air balloons can fly far longer than 18 hours 20 minutes...