Fast Jet Stream Winds Speed Up Transatlantic Flights, Causing Early Arrivals of Up to an Hour

Flights traveling east over the Atlantic this week arrived up to an hour early thanks to strong jet stream winds.

The jet stream is a band of fast winds high in the atmosphere that can speed up flights going east and slow down flights going west.

Early arrivals due to the jet stream are common for transatlantic flights heading eastbound.

Flying through the jet stream can sometimes create turbulence, so pilots may slow down to avoid it.

Arriving too early can be an issue if no gate is available, leading to planes waiting on the tarmac.