Travel & Geography – Why Flights from India to the USA Go West

Ever wondered why a plane leaving Mumbai for New York doesn’t just take off eastward? It feels like the shortest way, but the planet’s shape changes the game. The shortest path on a round Earth is a curve called a great‑circle route, and that curve points west from India to the US.

Great‑Circle Routes Explained

A great‑circle route is the direct line you’d draw on a globe, not on a flat map. When you look at a flat map, the lines look weird – they stretch and bend. On a sphere, the same line is actually a smooth arc. For Mumbai to New York, that arc runs northwest over the Atlantic, which means the plane flies westward for most of the journey.

Practical Reasons for Westward Flights

Flying west saves fuel because the distance is shorter. Less distance means lower fuel costs and lower ticket prices. Airlines also consider wind patterns – the jet stream often blows from west to east, so going the opposite way can give a tailwind boost on the return leg.

Another factor is airport slots and demand. Major hubs like Dubai, London, and Frankfurt sit right on the great‑circle path. Stopping at these hubs lets airlines pick up more passengers and spread the cost of the flight.

Safety also matters. The route over the Atlantic is well‑tracked, with many navigation aids and emergency landing options. Flying east would force the plane over remote ocean stretches with fewer options, which airlines avoid when possible.

Time zones play a role too. By flying west, the flight can land in New York in the evening, matching business hours and making connections easier. An eastward flight would arrive at an odd hour, disrupting schedules.

Travelers often think of “going the opposite way” as a shortcut, but on a sphere, opposite directions can be longer. The same principle applies to other long‑haul routes – many Europe‑Asia flights go north over the Arctic instead of south around Africa.

So the next time you book a ticket from India to the US, remember that the westward path isn’t a mistake. It’s the smartest route the Earth’s shape, wind, cost, and safety all agree on.