Why London-Los Angeles Flights Curve Over Greenland Instead Of Flying Straight West

Flights between London and Los Angeles don’t typically follow a straight westward line because aircraft routing is built around real-world physics and operating constraints. The most direct path on a globe can appear “curved” on common maps, since great-circle routes are straight only in a true globe view. In practice, dispatchers tailor routes daily because weather and winds can change what’s most economical. A major factor is the polar jet stream over the North Atlantic, where fast winds can cut time for eastbound flights via a tailwind, but create headwinds for westbound flights. Planes generally route nearer the ocean great-circle path, while actively avoiding the jet stream, though exact tracks vary with jet stream position, intensity, and severe weather.