How Fast Does a Commercial Jet Airplane Fly

Commercial jets can travel long distances in relatively short periods of time.

Commercial jets are by far one of the fastest ways to travel. Each type of jet has its own takeoff, cruising and landing speed.

Takeoff

A commercial jetliner usually takes off between 160 and 180 mph. The varying speed can be due to wind resistance, overall weight capacity and/or the use of high-lift devices.

Cruising Speed

Airspeed is measured with respect to the velocity of the object through the air. The average cruising speed is between 550 and 580 mph. Wind resistance is a key factor when determining the speed of the aircraft.

Landing

The average landing speed for a commercial jet is 150 to 166 mph. Changes in speed can be a result of weather conditions, runway length and landing weight.

TCDS

The FAA publishes Type Certificate Date Sheets (TCDS), which are issued for every make and model of commercial jet. These lists give the maximum and minimum speed limits, among other information about each commercial jet.

References

• Hypertextbook: Speed of a Commerical Jet Plane
• AerospaceWeb: Airline Takeoff Speeds
• Airliners.net: Commercial Jets

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• FAA: TCDS