Have you ever gazed up at a plane soaring through the sky and wondered, “Just how fast is that thing going?” It’s a common question with a fascinating answer. The average cruising speed of a commercial passenger airplane typically ranges from about 880 to 926 kilometers per hour (km/h), which translates to roughly 475 to 500 knots or 547 to 575 miles per hour (mph).
However, the speed at which planes fly isn’t a simple, fixed number. Many factors come into play that influence how fast a commercial aircraft can travel. Let’s delve into these elements and explore the typical speeds of various commercial airplanes.
Cruising Speeds for Common Commercial Airplanes
To give you a clearer picture, here’s a table outlining the typical cruising speeds of some common commercial airplanes. Speeds are provided in Mach number, knots, and mph for easy comparison.
| Aircraft Type | Cruise Mach | Knots | MPH |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737 MAX | Mach 0.79 | 453 kts | 521 mph |
| Airbus A320neo | Mach 0.78 | 450 kts | 518 mph |
| Boeing 747-8 | Mach 0.855 | 490 kts | 564 mph |
| Boeing 787 Dreamliner | Mach 0.85 | 488 kts | 562 mph |
| Airbus A380 | Mach 0.85 | 488 kts | 562 mph |
| Embraer EMB-145 | Mach 0.78 | 450 kts | 518 mph |
| Concorde SST (retired) | Mach 1.75 | 1,165 kts | 1,341 mph |
What Impacts the Speed of a Plane?
Understanding airplane speed can be a bit complex because aircraft operate within the atmosphere, which itself is in motion. While we might think of speed in simple terms of miles per hour like driving a car, pilots and aircraft engineers consider several different types of speed.
For airline route planning and passenger experience, ground speed is the most crucial. Ground speed is the plane’s actual speed relative to the ground, from departure to arrival. Think of it like driving your car – if you travel at 60 mph for an hour, you cover 60 miles on the ground. Ground speed is essentially the aircraft’s airspeed adjusted for wind conditions; tailwinds increase ground speed, while headwinds decrease it.
However, from the pilot’s and aircraft’s perspective, airspeed is paramount. Airspeed is the speed of the air moving over the wings, which is critical for generating lift. There are different measurements of airspeed, including True Airspeed (TAS) and Indicated Airspeed (IAS). True Airspeed vs indicated airspeed.
True Airspeed (TAS) is considered the most accurate airspeed because it accounts for variations in air temperature and density, which change with altitude and weather conditions. Aircraft instruments often display Indicated Airspeed (IAS), which is less accurate and requires adjustments to determine TAS.
How Is a Plane’s Speed Measured?
In aviation, distances are measured in nautical miles (NM), which differ from the statute miles used on U.S. highways. One nautical mile is approximately 1.15 statute miles. Speed in aviation is typically expressed in “knots,” where one knot equals one nautical mile per hour. Therefore, aircraft speeds are commonly reported in knots rather than mph.
Jet aircraft have design limitations that dictate both minimum and maximum speeds. Most commercial airplanes are not designed to exceed the speed of sound, also known as Mach 1. As an aircraft approaches Mach 1 and beyond, air compression creates shockwaves along the wings. These shockwaves can lead to a loss of control. The maximum speed a plane is designed to avoid exceeding is termed the Maximum Mach Number, or Mmo.
Calculating speed in Mach numbers involves complex mathematics, so aircraft operating at high altitudes are equipped with a machmeter. This instrument allows pilots to easily monitor their speed relative to the speed of sound and ensure they stay below the Mmo without needing to perform calculations. Therefore, when a commercial airplane is flying at altitude, it operates at a safe and designed Mach number.
Aircraft speeds can be communicated in either knots or Mach number, depending on the context and phase of flight.
Different Speeds During Flight
It’s important to note that aircraft speeds are not constant throughout a flight. For safety and operational reasons, there are speed restrictions in place. For instance, all aircraft operating below 10,000 feet are required to maintain a speed of 250 knots or less. In the vicinity of busy airports, this speed limit is further reduced to 200 knots or less.
Beyond these restrictions, every flight follows a specific flight profile that dictates optimal speeds for different phases of flight, including climb, cruise, and descent. Pilots set engine power and aircraft configuration to adhere to these pre-determined profiles for efficient and safe operation.
Climb Speeds
Achieving a safe altitude quickly is a primary objective during takeoff and initial climb. Higher altitude offers more options in case of emergencies or engine issues. Initially, pilots aim for the best rate of climb, which maximizes altitude gain in the shortest time, even if it means a slower forward speed.
Once the aircraft reaches a safe altitude, pilots transition to a more efficient climb profile. This involves adjusting the aircraft’s pitch (lowering the nose), reducing engine power, and increasing forward speed while maintaining a slower rate of climb.
Alt text: Commercial airplane takes off at high speed from runway, showcasing the power and velocity needed for flight.
Cruise Speed
The cruise phase of flight also employs a pre-determined profile. Pilots set engine power and fuel consumption targets for the specific flight, and the resulting airspeed or Mach number dictates the ground speed and overall range.
As you observed in the cruise speed table, most airliners exhibit remarkably similar performance in terms of cruise speed. Subsonic transport aircraft are generally limited to a Maximum Mach number of approximately 0.9–0.95. This limitation arises because airflow accelerates as it moves over parts of the aircraft’s surface. Even when the plane’s overall speed is below Mach 1, airflow over certain sections can approach the speed of sound.
Without designing the entire aircraft for supersonic flight, these aircraft are constrained to speeds around this range. Furthermore, air density significantly decreases at higher altitudes compared to near the surface. Jet engines operate more efficiently in less dense air, but aircraft wings require higher speeds to generate sufficient lift to prevent stalling.
Consequently, airliners often operate within a narrow speed “window” – fast enough to avoid stalling at high altitude and slow enough to remain below the Mmo. This results in many contemporary airliners cruising at relatively similar speeds.
During cruise, aircraft might need to adjust speed when flying through turbulence. Reducing speed can enhance passenger comfort and structural safety in turbulent conditions.
Descent Speeds
So, how fast do commercial aircraft fly during descent? Descents are typically divided into two phases: cruise descent and landing approach.
Cruise descent involves reducing altitude without excessive forward speed increase and staying below the Mmo. In this phase, pilots primarily reduce engine thrust, allowing gravity to initiate descent with minimal change in forward speed.
Upon descending through 10,000 feet, the 250-knot speed restriction becomes mandatory. This often necessitates further reduction in engine power and the possible deployment of drag devices like air spoilers to decelerate the aircraft. As airspeed decreases, reducing airflow over the wings, pilots deploy flaps to increase wing lift at lower speeds.
The approach to the airport demands further deceleration to the slowest safe speed while maintaining aircraft control. Approach speeds are typically around 150 knots or less. This phase involves the extensive use of wing flaps and other high-lift devices to ensure adequate lift and control at these reduced speeds.
Supersonic Air Travel
What about supersonic commercial planes? “I wanna go fast,” as Ricky Bobby famously said.
Any discussion about commercial airplane speeds would be incomplete without mentioning the Concorde. This iconic aircraft was the only supersonic airliner to operate in regular passenger service, flying for Air France and British Airways from 1976 to 2003. The Concorde provides valuable insights into the design and performance considerations of modern commercial aviation, even for subsonic aircraft.
The Concorde achieved numerous records and accumulated more supersonic flight hours than any aircraft before or since. In 1996, a British Airways Concorde “Speedbird” flew from New York to London in a mere 2 hours and 52 minutes, aided by a 175 mph tailwind. In 1992 and 1995, an Air France Concorde set records for circumnavigating the globe both eastbound and westbound (albeit with multiple refueling stops). The fastest was the 1995 eastbound trip, completed in 31 hours and 27 minutes.
Despite its groundbreaking achievements, only 20 Concordes were ever built, and supersonic air travel never became mainstream. The Concorde was notoriously fuel-inefficient and expensive to operate. Furthermore, the loud sonic booms it generated restricted supersonic flight to over-ocean routes, rendering it impractical for overland routes like New York to Los Angeles.
However, emerging technologies might be revitalizing the prospects of supersonic flight. Several startup companies are developing new SSTs (supersonic transports), building upon lessons learned from the Concorde era. These innovative designs, leveraging modern engineering and computer-aided design, aim to mitigate sonic boom impact and enhance fuel efficiency. Boom Supersonic, for example, has garnered significant attention with its Overture airliner project and has secured orders from major airlines like United and American Airlines.
While the Overture is still in development and yet to fly, its projected cruise speed of Mach 1.75 promises to reduce flight times dramatically, potentially making a London to New York flight in approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
Jarrod Roberts
Jarrod Roberts brings a wealth of experience to the Thrust Flight team, with a flying career spanning over 15 years. His journey in aviation began with a BS in Aeronautical Science from Texas A&M Central. After working as a flight instructor, he joined SkyWest as a First Officer and then later upgraded to Captain. He now flies for a legacy airline. Jarrod also serves as the Chief Pilot here at Thrust Flight where he guides our team of flight instructors in delivering top-tier training to our many Zero Time to Airline students.
Become an Airline Pilot, Join the Zero Time to Airline Program
Land your dream job as an airline pilot in as little as 2 years. Get on the path to this incredible, high earning career today. Click the button below to learn more.
Thrust Flight Piper Archer
Alt text: Image promoting Thrust Flight’s Zero Time to Airline program, featuring a Piper Archer aircraft, highlighting the pathway to becoming a pilot.
Learn More
Want to become a more confident pilot?
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel where we post FREE content to help student pilots understand the art of aviation.
Be entertained and educated on our TikTok channel.
Or check out some of our most popular articles on how to become an airline pilot and airline pilot salaries.
Previous: Top 19 Biggest Airplanes in the World
Next: How High do Planes Fly?
