Transatlantic Crossing

[clarahenders]

I fly to america every year and noticed on both flights that the transatlantic route seems to have changed. I flew out to New York and returned to the UK from Tampa. The in-flight map on both flights showed the airplane heading directly across the atlantic, but on previous flights the route was usually across the east coast of america then off the coast of canada, crossing Baffin Bay and the coast of Greenland. Is this switched around regularly, based on jetstreams, etc. Have to say, it freaked me out a little, being so far from land!!!

[jno]

were they maybe avoiding an area of hurricanes or other bad weather?

[chazza]

More direct route to use less fuel?

[Cakeboy]

It depends entirely on where the jetstreams are across the Atlantic. They change all the time so as a result you will see different routes across the Atlantic. Westbound flights look to find the places where the wind is lowest as the prevailing winds blow Eastbound so Eastbound flights look to find where the wind is strongest to get the most benefit from tailwinds.

Also, the distance from land can vary depending on what plane you're in a different planes can fly further from a suitable diversion airfield than others.