Flights - what time of day?

[telstarbox]

How do airlines decide which departure and arrival times make sense?

I assume for European short haul it's about fitting in the most round trips within crew hours. What are the factors for long haul and how long does an aircraft need to be on the ground to be restocked for the next flight?

 

[zero]

It would depend on the slots that are available to the airline at the origin and destination airports, which would also be affected by any curfew times. Timezones will play a factor, for example the majority of Europe to North America flights are in the morning/afternoon and the majority of North America to Europe are overnight.

Arrival and departure times at the airline's hub may also be chosen to match connections to their (or their partner airlines') network.

Long haul flights can be turned around in 2 hours or just under.

 

[Tetchytyke]

For long haul, they look at what they’re given in slot restricted airports then work backwards from there. Quite a few big airports have curfews- Sydney, for instance- so they also don’t want to arrive too early.

Short haul, yeah, it’s about maximising time in the air. But again they have to work around curfews at some airports- Berlin, for instance- which is why airports without curfews have some insanely late flights.

 

[telstarbox]

Makes sense. I saw a Venice to Gatwick coming in late last night which I assumed is aimed at weekenders wanting to use the whole Sunday.

 

[Ken X]

Airport curfew is definitely a factor.

When I worked there (and I suspect nothing has changed) Heathrow closed at night, whereas Gatwick received incoming flights throughout the night.

The incoming flights would land on both runways at LHR first thing as several were timed to arrive as soon as it opened.

Another factor is time zones. The vast majority of long haul flights to the states and surrounding countries had left Gatwick by 13:00 as they would arrive at a sensible time at their destination.

 

[NB5025]

Then there are the European short hauls that are operated by the airlines that have more of a long haul focus (BA, KLM, Iberia etc) where connections to the long haul network for passengers are also a factor.

 

[Horizon22]

Making use of timezones is also a part of the scheduling. Hence why you get lots of US > EU flights after 2100 as it runs overnight, yet arrives at a reasonable hour on arrival which would otherwise be "dead time".

It can get quite complex with turnaround times, flight times, crew hours etc. Ultimately companies want to utilise their aircraft for as long as possible, without going into really anti-social hours (or curfews) for departing & arriving (generally 2300-0500).

 

[Vexed]

Makes sense. I saw a Venice to Gatwick coming in late last night which I assumed is aimed at weekenders wanting to use the whole Sunday.

You can do the exact same from Bristol to Venice, which I'm doing in a couple weeks.

 

[route101]

I have noticed some Ryanair's depart before 6am now from Edinburgh.

 

[Bald Rick]

I have noticed some Ryanair's depart before 6am now from Edinburgh.

There’s no night restricitons on EDI.

 

[ABB125]

I've spotted some low cost flights into somewhere like Oradea (Romania) arriving at something like 0200 local time (2h ahead of UK). Not sure I'd want to do that myself...

US-Europe flights mainly being overnight is great - half a day (or more, depending on how far east you are) to do whatever, then off to the airport. Arrive in the UK early morning, straight to the office for a day's work. Very time efficient. I've done it via Frankfurt, was in the office (central Birmingham) before 0800.

 

[Bald Rick]

US-Europe flights mainly being overnight is great - half a day (or more, depending on how far east you are) to do whatever, then off to the airport. Arrive in the UK early morning, straight to the office for a day's work. Very time efficient. I've done it via Frankfurt, was in the office (central Birmingham) before 0800.

That’s great at your age, or if flying on a lie flat bed. Rather different when you’re well into middle age - flying economy or even premium on the red eye means the next day is a write off. My preferred flight eastbound from NY is one of the half dozen that leave around 0800/0900 and arrive London 12 hours later local time. It means you have to be up early to get to the airport, which puts you on the road to the right timezone, and after 6-7hrs in the air (a tiring business at the best of times) you then get throuh Heathrow and straight home to bed. Yes some people think it is a day wasted, but jet lag is completely eliminated, and at my age I lose a day (usually more) anyway if I’ve done the red eye.

 

[ABB125]

That’s great at your age, or if flying on a lie flat bed. Rather different when you’re well into middle age - flying economy or even premium on the red eye means the next day is a write off. My preferred flight eastbound from NY is one of the half dozen that leave around 0800/0900 and arrive London 12 hours later local time. It means you have to be up early to get to the airport, which puts you on the road to the right timezone, and after 6-7hrs in the air (a tiring business at the best of times) you then get throuh Heathrow and straight home to bed. Yes some people think it is a day wasted, but jet lag is completely eliminated, and at my age I lose a day (usually more) anyway if I’ve done the red eye.

Very true - I think it would be fair to say that it wasn't the most productive day of work I've ever done! But all part of the "fun" (he says) of travel.

 

[RailWonderer]

For short haul I think it depends on business travel. 8am-11am departures UK to Europe tend to be more business traffic destinations, the more leisure oriented destinations tend to be early morning departures or afternoon onwards. Business travellers need those early flights to arrive for a conference then leave in the evening the next day or the day after.

 

[route101]

There’s no night restricitons on EDI.

0540 am is the first. I am sure it was usually 6am.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 May 2026 ==

I've spotted some low cost flights into somewhere like Oradea (Romania) arriving at something like 0200 local time (2h ahead of UK). Not sure I'd want to do that myself...

US-Europe flights mainly being overnight is great - half a day (or more, depending on how far east you are) to do whatever, then off to the airport. Arrive in the UK early morning, straight to the office for a day's work. Very time efficient. I've done it via Frankfurt, was in the office (central Birmingham) before 0800.

Yes, I think I would prefer an early flight and save money on a hotel, to arriving late.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 May 2026 ==

To those who travel by air for work, do employers expect some work completed on travel days?

 

[Jimini]

To those who travel by air for work, do employers expect some work completed on travel days?

I do 5-6 transatlantic trips a year for work, and I’ll generally do a bit of work on the way out (day flight) assuming the WiFi is working, but after a redeye back I rarely work the following day (having landed at ~6am at Heathrow and getting home at ~7:30 dependent on traffic). Maybe the occasional video call later on in the afternoon / early evening if absolutely necessary.

When I was a younger man I used to land at LHR and go straight to the office in London Bridge for a full day’s work. Sod doing that these days (I’m 45 now). Also the prevalence of home working these days means that expectation has rightly now been consigned to history.

 

[xotGD]

The stupid o'clock departure holiday flights are there for the convenience of the airline, not the passenger. Starting the day at 06:00 and finishing after midnight maximises utilisation of the aircraft, squeezing in three return trips rather than two.

 

[telstarbox]

Which short haul destinations would benefit most from the middle pair (leaving after 1200, returning 1700)?

 

[WestCoast]

On holiday flights to Southern European beach resorts, the likes of Jet2 and TUi will often try to bank the flights together arriving from different Uk airports so it makes it easier for the tour operator to get people to/from their accommodation. So you’ll see flights arriving from all over the UK to that place within two hours or so and nothing from that airline for the rest of the day.

 

[The exile]

I've spotted some low cost flights into somewhere like Oradea (Romania) arriving at something like 0200 local time (2h ahead of UK). Not sure I'd want to do that myself...

Not so bad if you’re going home.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 May 2026 ==

The stupid o'clock departure holiday flights are there for the convenience of the airline, not the passenger. Starting the day at 06:00 and finishing after midnight maximises utilisation of the aircraft, squeezing in three return trips rather than two.

Though if you’ve got a bit of a drive to the airport, flights over the lunchtime period are (to me at least) worse than stupid o’clock.

 

[xotGD]

Which short haul destinations would benefit most from the middle pair (leaving after 1200, returning 1700)?

Sounds ideal to me. Get up at normal time, finish packing and head to the airport. Arrive at destination, check in unpack and go to dinner.

On the way back, breakfast, pack, check out, leave after lunch to head to the airport, arrive back in the UK and get home for normal bedtime.

Perfect!

 

[westv]

If it doesn't depart between 07:00 and 10:00 and return between 12:00 and 15:00 I'm not interesred and will move on to another location.

 

[thejuggler]

Which short haul destinations would benefit most from the middle pair (leaving after 1200, returning 1700)?

A three cycle schedule for a holiday airline in summer could be first flight circa 3 hours. Spain, Balearics, Italy, Poland etc back for lunchtime.

A shorter flight departing at about 1400 returning 1700 eg. Paris, Nice, Jersey, Amsterdam.

End of day late evening flight at 1800 back to Spain, Balearics etc.

 

[SeanG]

Sounds ideal to me. Get up at normal time, finish packing and head to the airport. Arrive at destination, check in unpack and go to dinner.

On the way back, breakfast, pack, check out, leave after lunch to head to the airport, arrive back in the UK and get home for normal bedtime.

Perfect!

Conversely, I wouldn't enjoy this as I would feel like I have 'wasted' a day of a trip. I much prefer the 6am flights out and the 10pmm flights back as you can get the majority of both days at your destination

 

[Mojo]

There must be some element of competition and consumer demand in it for those extra profitable routes.

BA and Virgin between them have four widebodies a day between London and South Africa in the summer schedule (and more in winter). In both directions they only fly overnight meaning that the planes spend around 12 hours on the ground in Johannesburg or Cape Town. I can’t imagine they’d waste their resources doing that if there was no justification doing that.

 

[Watershed]

There must be some element of competition and consumer demand in it for those extra profitable routes.

BA and Virgin between them have four widebodies a day between London and South Africa in the summer schedule (and more in winter). In both directions they only fly overnight meaning that the planes spend around 12 hours on the ground in Johannesburg or Cape Town. I can’t imagine they’d waste their resources doing that if there was no justification doing that.

That will be down to the demand from business travellers who prefer to travel at night to minimise 'wasted' time. Similarly this is why almost all eastbound transatlantic flights are overnight, even though it is much better for jetlag management to travel daytime.

Oliver Ranson's blog has an interesting article on the topic (most of the article is paywalled unfortunately):

Cape Town Turn-Around

Why do aircraft stay so long at South African airports?

revman.substack.com

 

[xotGD]

That will be down to the demand from business travellers who prefer to travel at night to minimise 'wasted' time. Similarly this is why almost all eastbound transatlantic flights are overnight, even though it is much better for jetlag management to travel daytime.

Oliver Ranson's blog has an interesting article on the topic (most of the article is paywalled unfortunately):

Cape Town Turn-Around

Why do aircraft stay so long at South African airports?

revman.substack.com

When I did several work trips to South Africa I flew KKM specifically because the southbound flight was daytime.

A night in a hotel bed ahead of a work meeting allowed me to function.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

To those who travel by air for work, do employers expect some work completed on travel days?

No. Not in my experience. Others maybe different.

 

[H F Stephens]

When I did several work trips to South Africa I flew KKM specifically because the southbound flight was daytime.

A night in a hotel bed ahead of a work meeting allowed me to function.

Presumably that should be KLM, and if so, they do operate a number of schedules (including ex Asia) in a quite different way to, for example, BA.

Part of the reason that they do so is because, historically, a very significant part of the above-floor payload, not just the sub-floor, was cargo; running 747 Combi aircraft on a number of these routes, and that alters scheduling priorities.

Their commercial proposition to passengers is also very different to the likes of BA’s, reflecting a different market niche, with passenger yields much lower than BA’s.

Some corporates will take the view that lower fares outweigh the perceived productivity loss of an employee flying during working hours, especially those with Economy-only policies.

Other corporates have historically taken the opposite view, hence the commercial success of (for example) BA’s overnight Club World ‘Sleeper Service’ from the Eastern Seaboard of the USA, for a particular strata of employee.

And, why the daytime East Coast to London, ‘non-productive‘ operations have always been very limited and often referred to as ‘Chairman’s Flights’.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Sounds ideal to me. Get up at normal time, finish packing and head to the airport. Arrive at destination, check in unpack and go to dinner.

On the way back, breakfast, pack, check out, leave after lunch to head to the airport, arrive back in the UK and get home for normal bedtime.

We have a number of charters organised by a local travel agent in the summer months direct from the Isle of Man to the Balearics and the Algarve, and they are exactly that sort of pattern. Depart Europe about 1pm, arrive IOM about 3pm, depart IOM about 4pm and arrive Europe about 7pm.

I'd use them anyway as the direct flight is so much easier, but the timing works pretty well too. Pack in the morning, get lunch somewhere, head to the airport, fly, hotel, dinner, bed.

The early flights may feel like you're getting more stay for your money but, IME, on the first day you arrive in a hot country and you can't check in until 3pm and you can't easily find somewhere to change. And even if you can find somewhere to change into your swimming togs, all the sunloungers have long since been taken. On the way back it is the same, sure you get the day by the pool but then there's nowhere to shower and change before your flight home.

It's a bit better with city breaks but, even then, on the last day I always find myself clock-watching.

To those who travel by air for work, do employers expect some work completed on travel days?

Thankfully I don't have to travel long-haul for work, but short haul, yes, I'm doing a full day and then flying back.

But friends who do fly long-haul for work overwhelmingly say yes. Those in the London financial services industry would routinely do a full day at Canary Wharf, go to Heathrow, overnight flight to Dubai, then straight into the office in the UAE the next morning after a quick shower in the arrivals lounge. The employer saw it as the quid pro quo for flying them business class.