About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Ninoy Aquino International (MNL)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Manila. Left side wins both the departure from JFK and the arrival into Manila. The left side captures Manhattan and New York Harbor on takeoff, and Manila Bay with the Makati skyline on landing. The transpacific routing over the North Pacific offers limited surface features mid-flight, but the bookend city views make left the clear overall choice.
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 dominant runway 31L/31R departure heading northwest, the left side gives you Manhattan's skyline, the Hudson River, and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge as the aircraft climbs and turns. Even on 22L departures heading southwest, the left side tracks the Jamaica Bay wetlands and then swings toward the New York Harbor. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Jamaica Bay, New York Harbor.
What can I see when landing at Ninoy Aquino International in Manila?
When landing at Ninoy Aquino International (MNL), sit on the Left side for the best views. NAIA approaches are typically from the west or northwest over Manila Bay on runway 06, or from the east on runway 24. On the common runway 06 approach over Manila Bay, the left side faces north and gives a clear view of Manila Bay's shoreline, the Pasig River delta, and the dense urban grid of Metro Manila including Makati's skyline. On runway 24 approaches from the east, the left side still captures the bay and city spread. Notable sights include: Manila Bay, Makati CBD skyline, Pasig River, Laguna de Bay.
How long is the flight from New York to Manila?
The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Ninoy Aquino International (MNL) takes Approximately 16-17 hours nonstop.
What does the New York to Manila flight path pass over?
The great circle route from JFK to MNL tracks northeast over New England, then across the North Atlantic briefly before arcing northwest over Canada's Hudson Bay region, then across Alaska's Aleutian Islands chain, over the North Pacific Ocean, past Japan's Ryukyu Islands, and south through the Philippine Sea toward Luzon. Notable features include the Aleutian Islands visible on clear days, the Japanese coastline near Okinawa, and the northern Philippine island of Luzon on descent.