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Why do planes not fly the shortest routes? A review

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  • Frédéric Dobruszkes

Abstract

Scholars and experts in air transport generally assume the distance flown between airports is the shortest route (also known as the great-circle distance or the orthodromic route). Howev-er, in the real world, planes follow longer itineraries. This paper reviews the factors of de-tours, based on interviews with pilots and experts in air navigation. Factors relate to (1) technical constraints, (2) natural processes (including meteorological conditions) and obsta-cles, (3) geopolitical factors and (4) social factors, which are all explored in this paper. Their temporary vs. permanent and spatial impact (small vs. long detours) varies signifi-cantly among factors and among cases, as well as their avoidable nature. Appropriate poli-cies could lower detours. In addition, these results echo academic debates on the meaning of distance.

Suggested Citation

  • Frédéric Dobruszkes, 2019. "Why do planes not fly the shortest routes? A review," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/293810, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    • Handle: RePEc:ulb:ulbeco:2013/293810
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Kağan Albayrak, Muhammed Bilge & Özcan, İsmail Çağrı & Can, Raif & Dobruszkes, Frédéric, 2020. "The determinants of air passenger traffic at Turkish airports," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    2. Joshan, Saeid & Maertens, Sven, 2020. "Low cost carriers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: Emergence and barriers to development," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    3. Dobruszkes, Frédéric & Peeters, Didier, 2019. "The magnitude of detours faced by commercial flights: A global assessment," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 1-1.
    4. Dobruszkes, Frédéric & Mattioli, Giulio & Mathieu, Laurette, 2022. "Banning super short-haul flights: Environmental evidence or political turbulence?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    5. Raúl Hernández-Martín & Hugo Padrón-Ávila, 2021. "The Carbon Footprint of Airport Ground Access as Part of an Outbound Holiday Trip," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-19, August.
    6. Frédéric Dobruszkes & Didier Peeters, 2019. "The magnitude of detours faced by commercial flights: A global assessment," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/293811, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    7. Chu, Chen & Zhang, Hengcai & Zhang, Jiayin & Cong, Lin & Lu, Feng, 2024. "Assessing impacts of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on global air transportation: From the view of mass flight trajectories," Journal of Air Transport Management, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).

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    Keywords

    Air transport geography; Airline routes; Detours; Distance flown; Great-circle distance;
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