How fast do planes fly? Commercial, private and military speeds

Nicolle Harwood-Nash

By:  Nicolle Harwood-Nash

7 minutes read

Last Updated:  September 4, 2026

Most commercial planes fly at about 515 to 565 mph (830 to 910 km/h) once they reach cruising altitude, which pilots express as Mach 0.78 to 0.85, or 78% to 85% of the speed of sound. Private jets run slightly faster at up to Mach 0.90, and military fighters leave both behind, with top speeds beyond 1,500 mph.

Those cruise speeds explain why a flight to Lisbon takes under 3 hours and one to Sydney takes a day. They also matter when things go wrong, because compensation for a delayed flight is measured by how late you arrive, not how fast you flew.

Note: If you've experienced flight delays, cancellations, or denied boarding in the United Kingdom, find out how you can claim compensation for your disrupted flight. Visit UK Flight Delay Compensation for expert advice and assistance.

Related: How Do Planes Have WiFi Up in the Air?

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How fast do commercial planes fly?

Almost every airliner cruises between roughly 500 to 560 mph. This is because jet engines and wings are optimised for that particular speed, and flying faster burns disproportionately more fuel. The exception to this is the turboprop at the bottom of the table, whose propellers trade speed for efficiency on short hops.

These are the typical cruising speeds of the most common airliners, based on manufacturer specifications:

Mach compares a plane's speed to the speed of sound. Sound travels more slowly in the cold, thin air at cruising height, so Mach 0.85 would work out to about 561 mph. At sea level, the same Mach 0.85 would be about 650 mph, which is where the inflated speeds you see on some websites come from.

How fast do planes go during takeoff?

A typical airliner lifts off at between 150 and 180 mph (240 to 290 km/h), and the exact speed is calculated fresh for every single flight. The heavier the aircraft, the hotter the day, and the shorter the runway, the faster the plane needs to go before its wings generate enough lift. That is why the same 737 might lift off at 150 mph one morning and closer to 165 mph that evening. Big long-haul jets like the 747 and A380 sit at the upper end of the range, while a turboprop like the ATR 72 can be airborne at around 115 mph.

How fast do planes land?

Landing speeds are lower, usually between 130 and 160 mph (210 to 260 km/h) for a jet airliner, with flaps and spoilers keeping the wings working at that slower pace. Every aircraft also has a stall speed, which is the minimum speed its wings can still generate lift. Landing speed is always set at a safe margin above the stall speed. For small single-engine planes, the stall speed can be below 60 mph, which is why a little Cessna can land on a short grass strip while a 777 needs 2 miles of tarmac.

Why does your flight tracker show 700 mph?

Your flight tracker is showing ground speed, not airspeed. An aircraft moves through the air at its cruise speed, but the air itself is moving. Over the Atlantic, the jet stream can push eastbound flights along at well over 100 mph.

In February 2019, a Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 flying from Los Angeles to London hit a ground speed of 801 mph in an unusually strong jet stream, while its speed through the air never left the normal cruise range. The same tailwind that gets you into Heathrow 40 minutes early becomes a headwind on the way back, which is why westbound transatlantic flights are scheduled around an hour longer.

Related: Is the turbulence zone dangerous?

If your flight was delayed, canceled or overbooked within the last 3 years, you could be eligible for up to €600 ($650) in compensation.Check Your Flight

How fast do private jets fly?

Private jets fly slightly faster than airliners do, as a rule. Most business jets cruise between Mach 0.80 and 0.90 (528 to 594 mph), and the quickest civilian jets in service push right up against the sound barrier. Here are the top speeds of some of the most common private jets.

How fast do military jets fly?

Fighter jets are built for short bursts of extreme speed rather than fast cruising, so the fair comparison is top speed, but even then most missions are flown at a far slower speed to save fuel.

The following table shows each jet's official top speed, as published by its manufacturer or the air force that flies it

Top speed depends on altitude, so different sources quote slightly different figures for the same jet. Most fighters also need their afterburners, which burn enormous amounts of fuel, just to fly faster than sound. The F-22 can hold Mach 1.5 to 1.8 without them, a feature called supercruise. The Typhoon and the F-35 are the RAF's two frontline fast jets.

Claim with AirAdvisor and get up to €600 ($650) compensation. Find out how much you’re owed today.Check Your Flight

Why don't passenger planes fly faster?

The main reason is fuel. Drag rises sharply as an aircraft approaches the speed of sound, so pushing a jet from Mach 0.85 to Mach 0.9 only buys a few minutes on a long flight while burning far more fuel.

Airlines have settled on slightly slower cruise speeds than the first jets flew in the 1960s, because fuel is one of their biggest costs and passengers book on price, not on a 15-minute difference to Malaga. Until engine and airframe technology change that equation, cruise speeds are unlikely to rise.

Also read: When is the Perfect Time for Cheap Flights?

What's the fastest plane ever?

The fastest plane ever flown by a pilot is the North American X-15. In 1967, test pilot William Knight reached 4,520 mph, which is Mach 6.7, and no one has flown faster since. The X-15 was a rocket-powered research aircraft, though, not something you could book a seat on. The fastest jet is still the SR-71 Blackbird, which set its record of 2,193 mph in 1976.

Concorde remains the fastest aircraft ordinary passengers have ever flown on. It crossed from London to New York in under 3.5 hours, cruising at Mach 2.04, about 1,350 mph, until it retired in 2003. Every airliner flying today is slower than the speed of sound, though several companies are working on new supersonic passenger jets.

When speed doesn't save your schedule

A modern jet crosses the Atlantic in about 7 hours, but no amount of speed protects your arrival time when the schedule falls apart.

If your flight lands 3 or more hours late, or gets cancelled at short notice, UK261 may entitle you to up to £520 (€600) in compensation, provided the cause was within the airline's control. Meals, refreshments, and a hotel if you're stuck overnight are owed during a long delay whatever the cause.

Eligibility depends on when you land, not when you take off, so a flight that departed on time can still qualify if it arrived 3 or more hours behind schedule.

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Author:

Nicolle Harwood-Nash

Job/Position: Writer & Content Creator

Nicolle is a copywriter and editor with over 15 years of international experience shaping content for industries including aviation, technology, finance, and healthcare. Skilled at both creative storytelling and precise editing, she brings adaptability and insight to every project she takes on.

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