TAP Air Portugal is introducing a flight between Lisbon and Miami that has a schedule that’s so uncommon that I feel it’s price highlighting (because of Willem for flagging this)…
TAP Air Portugal’s 3:25AM flight from Miami
There are elements of the world the place airports expertise “rush hour” in the course of the night time, like within the Center East and India. Nevertheless, america isn’t usually a kind of locations.
When you have a look at flights between america and Europe, you’ll hardly ever discover flights with really uncommon timing. I’d say absolutely the extremes that we sometimes see are available certainly one of two types.
On one finish of the spectrum, you’ve gotten very early morning flights in each instructions (with early eastbound flights being among the many solely daytime transatlantic flights). For instance, take JetBlue’s service between London and New York, which leaves London at 7:25AM, and leaves New York at 8:35AM.
On the opposite finish of the spectrum, you’ve gotten very late night time flights in each instructions, clearly meant to maximise plane utilization. For instance, take Norse Atlantic’s service between London and New York, which leaves London at 8:40PM, and leaves New York at 1:30AM.
Properly, because it seems, there’s a extra excessive flight. TAP Air Portugal is updating its Miami schedule, in a method that places the above flight timing to disgrace. TAP Air Portugal has its day by day flight between Lisbon and Miami, which follows a reasonably normal schedule, departing Lisbon at 10:30AM, and departing Miami at 4:30PM.
The airline then has a further 3x weekly flight between Lisbon and Miami, and as of Might 23, 2024, this flight has a brand new schedule. Particularly, the Lisbon to Miami flight departs at 8:20PM and arrives at 12:20AM. Then the Miami to Lisbon flight departs at 3:25AM and arrives at 4:45PM.
Between america and Europe, I’ve by no means seen a business flight that’s scheduled to depart between 2AM and 6AM, so to me that is fairly outstanding.
What an uncommon flight schedule!
Clearly the up to date Lisbon to Miami timing is designed particularly to maximise plane utilization. As we go into the height summer time journey season, airways wish to function as many flights as doable, and within the case of TAP Air Portugal, the airline is prepared to schedule flights nonetheless it must as a way to accomplish that.
Trying on the schedule for Miami Airport, at present there’s an almost 5 hour interval at night time with no passenger flights (although the airport has large cargo operations across the clock). The most recent flight earlier than this hole departs Miami at 12:20AM (a LATAM Boeing 767 to Lima), whereas the earliest flight after this hole departs Miami at 5:18AM (an American Airbus A321neo to Dallas).
So I assume TSA must preserve the checkpoint open in a single day (or no less than enhance staffing, within the occasion it’s open 24/7), as a way to accommodate this?
Subsequent, I can’t assist however surprise if 3:25AM is the worst doable departure time for a transatlantic flight, or if some individuals would possibly truly prefer it? For instance, take TAP Air Portugal’s different flight from Miami, which departs at 4:30PM. Some individuals hate transatlantic flights that depart so early, since they aren’t but drained.
Personally I’m an early to mattress and early to rise particular person, so a 4:30PM flight is nice for me, and isn’t that far off from once I’d often fall asleep (factoring in that inflight service can take round two hours after takeoff). Are there some night time owls who would possibly truly like a 3:25AM departure, since they’d be drained?
The humorous factor is, I’m not truly certain I’d hate this schedule both. If I obtained up at 1AM to take this flight, I’d nonetheless get 5 hours of sleep earlier than waking up early, and I sort of like arriving in Europe within the afternoon, since there’s much less battle with jetlag, there’s no situation with checking into lodges, and many others.
Backside line
Flights between america and Europe hardly ever have timings that can catch you off guard. TAP Air Portugal’s Miami to Lisbon flight that operates on some days is getting a schedule change, and can depart Miami at 3:25AM.
I don’t recall ever seeing a passenger flight between america and Europe that departs between 2AM and 6AM, so I discovered that to be fairly fascinating. Clearly TAP Air Portugal’s focus is on maximizing plane utilization, even when meaning working flights with some unconventional timing.
I can’t determine whether or not that is the worst flight timing ever, or possibly not so unhealthy…
What do you make of a transatlantic flight departing at 3:25AM?
