Frankfurt to New Orleans flight path: FRA to MSY

Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Frankfurt to New Orleans. The Lake Pontchartrain and Mississippi River approach on the right side at landing is one of the more dramatic urban water approaches in the US. While left side wins at takeoff, right side delivers more consistently across the Atlantic crossing's eastern and western coasts, including the Irish coastline on departure and the Gulf Coast on arrival.

During takeoff from Frankfurt Main (FRA), sit on the Left side for the best views. Frankfurt's main departure runways (07L/07R heading east, or 25L/25R heading west) mean westbound transatlantic flights typically depart heading west or southwest. A left-side seat gives you views over Frankfurt city center, the Main River bends, and the Taunus hills to the north as you climb out. Right side faces south toward flat Rhine plain with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Frankfurt city center skyline and Main River bends, Taunus hills and forested ridgeline to the north, Rhine River valley visible to the northwest, Wiesbaden and Mainz confluence area.

When landing at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY), sit on the Right side for the best views. Aircraft approaching MSY typically land on runway 20 (heading roughly south-southwest) or runway 02 (heading north-northeast). On approach from the northeast over Lake Pontchartrain, a right-side seat gives you the broad expanse of Lake Pontchartrain, the causeway, and the New Orleans city grid and French Quarter as you descend over the lake toward the airport. Left side faces west over suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Lake Pontchartrain and the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, New Orleans city grid and French Quarter bend in the Mississippi River, Mississippi River crescent through downtown, Lake Borgne to the east.

The flight from Frankfurt Main (FRA) to Louis Armstrong New Orleans International (MSY) takes about 10 hours 30 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 5,022 miles (8,081 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Route tracks northwest over the British Isles, crossing southern Ireland and the Atlantic. Mid-flight passes over the North Atlantic with occasional Greenland ice sheet visibility to the north. Approaches the Canadian Maritime provinces (Nova Scotia, Newfoundland coastline), then tracks southwest over the northeastern US, crossing the Appalachians, then descending over the Gulf Coast states toward Louisiana.