About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Lisboa (LIS)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Lisbon. The left side wins overall. The Manhattan and New York Harbor views on departure are among the most dramatic urban aerial views in the world, and the left side also captures the Portuguese coastline and Tagus approach reasonably well even if not the prime landing seat. The right side's landing advantage over Lisbon is real but shorter in duration than the departure spectacle.
What can I see during takeoff from John F Kennedy International in New York?
During takeoff from John F Kennedy International (JFK), sit on the Left side for the best views. JFK typically departs eastward on runways 31L/31R or 22L/22R depending on wind. On the common eastward departure over Jamaica Bay, the left side gives you Manhattan's skyline receding to the northwest, plus the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and Upper New York Bay. The right side faces south over the Atlantic with little to see. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline to the northwest, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Jamaica Bay wetlands directly below, Upper New York Bay.
What can I see when landing at Lisboa in Lisbon?
When landing at Lisboa (LIS), sit on the Right side for the best views. Lisbon's Humberto Delgado Airport typically lands on runway 03, approaching from the south over the Tagus estuary. The right side gives you the Tagus River, the 25 de Abril Bridge, and central Lisbon's historic hillside districts. The left side faces east toward flat suburban sprawl. Notable sights include: Tagus River estuary, 25 de Abril suspension bridge, Cristo Rei statue on the south bank, Lisbon's hilltop Alfama and Castelo districts.
How long is the flight from New York to Lisbon?
The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Lisboa (LIS) takes Approximately 7 to 7.5 hours.
What does the New York to Lisbon flight path pass over?
The route tracks northeast out of New York before curving east across the North Atlantic on a great circle path. You cross over Nova Scotia and Newfoundland's southern tip, then the open North Atlantic for the majority of the flight with no land visible. The Azores archipelago passes well to the south and is not typically overflown. The Portuguese coast appears as the first landfall, with the rocky Cape Roca headland — the westernmost point of continental Europe — visible before the descent into Lisbon.