About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Licenciado Benito Juarez International (MEX)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Mexico City. While the left side wins at takeoff with the Manhattan skyline, the right side delivers the more sustained and dramatic experience overall. The volcanic approach into Mexico City on the right is genuinely world-class, and during the cruise the right side also faces west-southwest giving views over the Gulf of Mexico coastline and the Sierra Madre Oriental as the flight tracks south through Mexico.
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 departures heading southwest on runway 13L/13R put Manhattan directly off the left side during initial climb. You get a clear view of the entire lower Manhattan skyline, the Hudson River, and the Statue of Liberty before the aircraft turns south over the Atlantic. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Hudson River, Statue of Liberty, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.
What can I see when landing at Licenciado Benito Juarez International in Mexico City?
When landing at Licenciado Benito Juarez International (MEX), sit on the Right side for the best views. Mexico City's AICM typically uses runways 05R/23L oriented northeast-southwest. On approach from the north heading southwest, the right side faces southeast toward the Sierra Nevada volcanic range, putting Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl directly in view. These are among the most dramatic visible landmarks on any approach in the Americas. Notable sights include: Popocatepetl volcano, Iztaccihuatl volcano, Lake Texcoco remnant basin, Mexico City urban sprawl.
How long is the flight from New York to Mexico City?
The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Licenciado Benito Juarez International (MEX) takes Approximately 5 hours 15 minutes to 5 hours 45 minutes.
What does the New York to Mexico City flight path pass over?
The flight tracks southwest over the US Mid-Atlantic states, then crosses the Gulf of Mexico from around the Florida panhandle or Louisiana coast. Mid-flight you pass over the open Gulf, then make landfall over the Mexican states of Veracruz or Tamaulipas. The Sierra Madre Oriental mountain range is visible as the aircraft descends toward the Mexican plateau, and the transition from coastal lowlands to the high central plateau at around 7,000 feet elevation is clearly visible in the terrain below.