This week, several transatlantic flights reached speeds exceeding the speed of sound relative to the ground, thanks to a powerful jet stream. While not a return of supersonic travel, these flights highlight the increasing influence of climate change on air travel.
Some transatlantic flights achieved speeds exceeding the speed of sound relative to the ground this week. This phenomenon wasn't due to a resurgence of supersonic travel like the Concorde, but rather to airplanes flying through an exceptionally accelerated jet stream . According to Flightradar24 data, Qatar Airways Flight 704, a Boeing 777 en route from New York to Doha on Wednesday, reached a maximum ground speed of 833 mph, landing approximately 50 minutes ahead of schedule.
Similarly, British Airways Flight 274, an Airbus A350 traveling from Las Vegas to London, briefly surpassed the speed of sound with a top ground speed of 814 mph, arriving 45 minutes early. While both flights exceeded Mach 1.2 when factoring in their cruising altitudes, they did not produce sonic booms. The planes were operating at their usual cruising speeds, typically around 600 mph, but were propelled by the North Atlantic jet stream, which was flowing at an unusually high velocity. Consequently, although these flights exceeded the speed of sound relative to the ground, they remained subsonic relative to the air surrounding them. The intensification of the jet stream is attributed to the recent cold spell in the United States, which also coincided with high winds impacting the UK and Ireland as part of Storm Éowyn. Red warnings, signifying a danger to life, were issued for all of Ireland and parts of Scotland on Friday, with wind gusts anticipated to reach up to 100 mph. Although these flights are noteworthy for exceeding 800 mph, it's unclear if any records were broken. The fastest subsonic transatlantic commercial flight officially recorded by Guinness World Records occurred in 2020 when a British Airways Boeing 747 flew from New York to London in 4 hours and 56 minutes, achieving a ground speed of 825 mph through the jet stream. However, the 747 maintained its high speeds for an extended duration, outperforming Wednesday's flights due to the flight's overall duration being two hours shorter than usual. It's not inconceivable that records will be broken again soon. The majority of flights between the US and Europe traverse the North Atlantic jet stream, and its tailwinds are the reason for the faster flight times eastward. The climate crisis is intensifying the jet streams, resulting in increased energy disparities between atmospheric layers, further propelling the jet streams' speed. This also magnifies Rossby waves, meanders within the jet stream, which generates more air friction and elevates the risk of turbulence at the jet stream's edges. For those yearning for a true supersonic commercial flight experience, a few more years will be required. Boom Supersonic, a US startup, is developing a commercial airliner intended to travel at Mach 1.7, with plans to enter service before the end of the decade.
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