Have you ever felt like your flight is dragging on longer than before? Well, it's not just your imagination.

Flights these days really are taking more time to reach their destinations. For example, a flight from New York to Houston used to be two-and-a-half hours back in 1973, but now it's closer to four hours. Why is that happening?

Flying Slower to Save Money

Forbes reports that one reason for longer air travel time is that airlines are choosing to fly at slower speeds to cut down on fuel expenses. Big airlines like jetBlue and Ryanair have told their pilots to slow down during flights. By doing this, they can save a lot of money on fuel costs. For example, jetBlue has been able to save around $13.6 million each year by just adding two extra minutes to each hour of flying since 2008.

Padding Flight Schedules

Airlines today also add extra time to their flight schedules, a practice known as 'schedule padding.' This helps them account for possible delays and ensure flights arrive on time. With airports and skies getting busier, giving themselves a bit of extra time allows airlines to manage unexpected issues better, ultimately preventing passengers from dealing with lengthy delays.

98.1 The Hawk logo
Get our free mobile app

Adapting to Changing Situations

Another reason for the longer flight times could be the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. As airlines face challenges like staffing shortages and disruptions, they need to be more flexible with their schedules to handle delays. While flight times might have been shorter during certain periods of the pandemic when travel demand was low, current circumstances require adjustments to ensure efficient operations and customer satisfaction.

Four Places Unsafe for New Yorkers to Visit

Gallery Credit: Traci Taylor

20 Red-Flag Travel Warnings for Americans

Gallery Credit: Reesha Cosby

More From 98.1 The Hawk