How Long Did It Take to Fly From London to New York?

By Robert Palmer

Traveling from London to New York has become a lot easier today than it was many years ago. With the advent of modern technology, air travel has revolutionized the way we move around the world.

However, have you ever wondered how long it took to fly from London to New York before these advancements? In this article, we will take a closer look at this question and analyze how air travel has evolved over time.

Early Days of Transatlantic Travel

In the early days of transatlantic travel, it was not possible to fly directly from London to New York. Instead, travelers had to take a long and arduous journey by sea.

The first transatlantic steamship service began in 1819 with the launch of SS Savannah. It took her 29 days to cross the Atlantic Ocean, which was a significant improvement compared to sailing ships that took months.

The First Flight Across the Atlantic

The first successful non-stop flight across the Atlantic Ocean occurred on June 14-15, 1919. British aviators John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown flew a modified Vickers Vimy bomber from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Clifden, Ireland in just under 16 hours. This flight marked a significant milestone in aviation history and opened up new possibilities for commercial air travel.

The Dawn of Commercial Air Travel

Commercial flights between London and New York did not begin until October 11, 1936 when British Airways launched its inaugural scheduled passenger service from London to New York. The flight took nearly two days with multiple stops along the way in Ireland, Canada, and Maine before reaching its final destination in New York City.

Modern Era of Air Travel

Today, air travel has become much faster and more efficient than ever before. With advances in technology and engineering designs of aircraft, flights from London to New York have become a routine matter. The average flight time between these two cities is now around 7 hours.

Conclusion

In conclusion, air travel has come a long way since the early days of transatlantic travel. What used to take weeks by sea, now takes only a few hours by air.

From the first successful flight across the Atlantic in 1919 to the dawn of commercial air travel in 1936 and the modern era of air travel we are experiencing today, it is clear that air travel has undergone significant changes over the years. The next time you fly from London to New York, take a moment to appreciate just how far we have come in terms of aviation technology and how much easier it is for us to connect with people across the globe.