About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Helsinki Malmi (HEM) to John F Kennedy International (JFK)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Helsinki to New York. Left side wins both ends of the flight. Over the Atlantic the views are largely ocean regardless of side, but the left side delivers the better urban and coastal geography at both Helsinki departure and the New York approach.
What can I see during takeoff from Helsinki Malmi in Helsinki?
During takeoff from Helsinki Malmi (HEM), sit on the Left side for the best views. Malmi's primary runway 18/36 means southbound departures toward the Atlantic track left-side passengers over central Helsinki, the South Harbour, and the Helsinki archipelago. You get a clear view of the city grid, Senate Square area, and then the scattered islands of the Gulf of Finland spreading out below. Notable sights include: Helsinki city centre and South Harbour, Gulf of Finland archipelago islands, Suomenlinna sea fortress island chain.
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's most common arrival from the northeast uses runway 31L/31R, meaning aircraft approach from over Jamaica Bay and Long Island. Left-side passengers get the Manhattan skyline in the distance to the northwest, plus the full sweep of Jamaica Bay below on final approach. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline on the distant horizon, Jamaica Bay and its wildlife refuge wetlands, Rockaway Peninsula barrier beach, Brooklyn waterfront.
How long is the flight from Helsinki to New York?
The flight from Helsinki Malmi (HEM) to John F Kennedy International (JFK) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours (note: Malmi is a small general aviation field with no scheduled transatlantic service; this assumes a hypothetical direct routing similar to Helsinki-Vantaa to JFK).
What does the Helsinki to New York flight path pass over?
The great circle route from Helsinki to JFK tracks southwest over the Baltic Sea, across southern Scandinavia or Denmark, then out over the North Atlantic passing south of Iceland and Greenland's southern tip. Mid-flight features include the Norwegian Sea, possible glimpses of Greenland's ice sheet edge on the left side at high latitudes, then the Labrador Sea and the Canadian Maritime coastline of Nova Scotia and New England before descending toward New York.