Left side wins at both ends of the flight. The Casablanca coast and Hassan II Mosque on departure, and the Manhattan skyline plus Jamaica Bay on approach to JFK, make the left side consistently more rewarding. Over the mid-Atlantic there is little to differentiate sides.
Flight Path
The route tracks northwest from Morocco across the open North Atlantic, passing well south of the Azores (which may be faintly visible on the left side roughly 2 to 3 hours into the flight if routing passes close). The remainder is open ocean with occasional cloud systems. As the aircraft approaches the US East Coast, the Canadian Maritime provinces or New England coastline may appear on the right side before the descent into New York.
Great circle distance and headings ›
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Phase by phase
Takeoff from CMN
LEFTCMN's primary departure runway 35L/35R sends aircraft northward, placing the Atlantic coast and Casablanca's urban sprawl on the left side. You get a clear view of the city center, the Hassan II Mosque on the waterfront, and the coastline curving north toward Rabat.
Landing at JFK
LEFTJFK primarily uses runways 31L/31R or 22L/22R for arrivals from the east. On the standard approach from the northeast over the Atlantic, the left side gives you the best view of Lower Manhattan's skyline, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and Jamaica Bay directly below on final approach.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
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About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Mohammed V (CMN) to John F Kennedy International (JFK)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Casablanca to New York. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. The Casablanca coast and Hassan II Mosque on departure, and the Manhattan skyline plus Jamaica Bay on approach to JFK, make the left side consistently more rewarding. Over the mid-Atlantic there is little to differentiate sides.
What can I see during takeoff from Mohammed V in Casablanca?
During takeoff from Mohammed V (CMN), sit on the Left side for the best views. CMN's primary departure runway 35L/35R sends aircraft northward, placing the Atlantic coast and Casablanca's urban sprawl on the left side. You get a clear view of the city center, the Hassan II Mosque on the waterfront, and the coastline curving north toward Rabat. Notable sights include: Hassan II Mosque on the Casablanca waterfront, Casablanca city grid and port, Atlantic Ocean coastline, Rabat visible to the north as the aircraft climbs.
What can I see when landing at John F Kennedy International in New York?
When landing at John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK primarily uses runways 31L/31R or 22L/22R for arrivals from the east. On the standard approach from the northeast over the Atlantic, the left side gives you the best view of Lower Manhattan's skyline, the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, and Jamaica Bay directly below on final approach. Notable sights include: Lower Manhattan skyline on the horizon, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge spanning the Narrows, Jamaica Bay wetlands directly below on final, Brooklyn waterfront.
How long is the flight from Casablanca to New York?
The flight from Mohammed V (CMN) to John F Kennedy International (JFK) takes Approximately 8 to 8.5 hours.
What does the Casablanca to New York flight path pass over?
The route tracks northwest from Morocco across the open North Atlantic, passing well south of the Azores (which may be faintly visible on the left side roughly 2 to 3 hours into the flight if routing passes close). The remainder is open ocean with occasional cloud systems. As the aircraft approaches the US East Coast, the Canadian Maritime provinces or New England coastline may appear on the right side before the descent into New York.