From a large collection of databases, airlines can see the city in which each passenger connects, the airline they flew on, and the average fare they paid for the leg. By knowing the average traffic flow per day, airlines will determine which type of aircraft is most suitable for the route.

The world’s busiest international air routes

• Orlando-San Juan (135,244)
• Delhi-Dubai (129,683)
• Cairo-Jeddah (128,665)
• Paris Orly-Pointe-a-Pitre (118,594)
• Tehran Imran Khomeini-Istanbul Ataturk (110,936)
• New York JFK-Santiago (DO) (108,876)
• Fort de France-Paris Orly (104,923)
• Cairo-Riyadh (103,922)

The Kangaroo Route refers to air routes flown between Australia and the United Kingdom via the Eastern Hemisphere.

Flight planning is the process of producing a flight plan to describe a proposed aircraft flight. It involves two safety-critical aspects: fuel calculation, to ensure that the aircraft can safely reach the destination, and compliance with air traffic control requirements, to minimise the risk of midair collision.

A: Flight plans are filed with air traffic control. Pilots receive a clearance from ATC and fly that clearance. If there is a reason to change the route, pilots request an amended clearance. ATC will approve the amendment unless there is a traffic conflict.

When clouds surround an airport, pilots have been able to find the path to the runway for decades by using an Instrument Landing System, or ILS. Ground-based transmitters project one radio beam straight down the middle of the runway, and another angled up from the runway threshold at a gentle three degrees.

Neither is required to file a flight plan. A flight plan is only required when flying under instrument flight rules (IFR), which enables the aircraft to fly through clouds and fog. In visual conditions, a flight plan is optional and serves only to advise rescue personnel should the aircraft go missing.

Any private airplane can fly internationally, not just jets. There may be different equipment requirements in the destination country to be complied with. There is a certain amount of paperwork involved but that can usually be done thru your computer or smart phone.

However flight plans may be submitted up to 120 hours in advance either by voice or by data link; though they are usually filled out or submitted just several hours before departure. The minimum recommended time is 1 hour before departure for domestic flights, and up to three hours before international flights.

If you fail to close a flight plan within 30 minutes of the time that you filed, flight service will begin to look for you. This starts with a call to your destination. If there is a tower there, controllers will have records of your arrival.

Do you have to file a VFR flight plan to fly VFR? No (with one exception). Unlike, IFR flight plans, VFR flight plans are not usually required, but they’re highly recommended. Remember VFR flight plans help emergency workers find you if you crash.

In the United States if you are flying for pleasure, the answer for both helicopters and airplanes below 18,000 feet, the answer is no. You do not have to file a flight plan. It is not a good idea to decide not to file one, but not illegal. Gov’t flight plans are optional unless you are crossing a border.

Submit a hardcopy flight plan form to your local flight service station. Call Flight Services (1-800-WX-BRIEF or 1-800-992-7433) – The flight services specialist will file your flight plan.

CRUISING SPEED: This field differs from the domestic flight plan mask and can be prone to errors. This field accepts speeds in three formats: • Knots, entered as N, then 4 digits. Mach, entered as M, then 3 digits. Kilometers Per Hour, entered as K, then 4 digits.