About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Mariscal Sucre International (UIO)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from New York to Quito. The left side delivers the iconic Manhattan skyline on departure, which is one of the most dramatic urban aerial views in the world. The landing right-side Pichincha view is spectacular but only lasts a few minutes. Left side also tracks the Caribbean coastline of Colombia and Venezuela at cruise altitude, offering more sustained geographic interest.
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's primary departure runways 31L/31R send aircraft on a northwest heading over Jamaica Bay and then across Brooklyn and Manhattan. The left side gets a direct view of Lower Manhattan's skyline, the Hudson River, and the Statue of Liberty as the aircraft banks south toward its route. Right side faces the Atlantic Ocean and the Rockaways. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Hudson River, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Jamaica Bay wetlands.
What can I see when landing at Mariscal Sucre International in Quito?
When landing at Mariscal Sucre International (UIO), sit on the Right side for the best views. Quito sits in a high Andean valley running north-south, and Mariscal Sucre airport is northeast of the city. Aircraft typically approach from the east or northeast, meaning the right side faces west toward the volcanic peaks of the Western Cordillera including Pichincha, which looms directly over Quito. The left side faces the eastern slopes dropping toward the Amazon basin. Notable sights include: Volcán Pichincha (4,784m), Quito's historic center and urban valley, Eastern Cordillera ridgelines, Andean valley patchwork farmland.
How long is the flight from New York to Quito?
The flight from John F Kennedy International (JFK) to Mariscal Sucre International (UIO) takes Approximately 6.5 to 7.5 hours.
What does the New York to Quito flight path pass over?
The flight tracks south-southwest over the Atlantic before crossing the Caribbean Sea, passing near the island chains of the Greater and Lesser Antilles. It then crosses the northern coast of Colombia near Cartagena and Barranquilla, traverses the Colombian Andes — where the three cordilleras are visible as parallel ridgelines — and descends into Ecuador over the high volcanic plateau of the northern Andes.