Strong jet stream means faster transatlantic flights

As the jet stream powers across the Atlantic, it's a great time for a transatlantic flight, depending on your direction of course.

The jet stream has been ramping up in recent days, driving in unsettled spells and low pressure systems to the UK and Ireland from across the Atlantic.

However it's not all bad news. With the jet stream strengthening west to east across the Atlantic, it's a good time to be on an eastbound flight over from the US over to Europe.

A strong jet stream is good for a tailwind, as planes usually fly at a height range of 30,000 feet to 42,000 feet, with the jet stream also located at around 30,000 feet.

Pilots often use the jet stream to their advantage where they can, being pushed with the strength of the flow and sometimes being able to cut the time of a flight down.

A westbound flight on the other hand, travelling from Europe to the US, would produce a headwind and likely some bumpy turbulence along the way within that strong jet stream flow.