About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Gatwick (LGW) to Halifax International (YHZ)?
Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from London to Halifax. The right side wins overall because the departure views over the Surrey Hills and Thames valley toward London are more visually rewarding than the landing approach views, and during the transatlantic cruise the right side faces south, giving better light angles and occasional views of the southern Greenland ice sheet edge and Labrador coastline as the great circle route arcs north.
What can I see during takeoff from Gatwick in London?
During takeoff from Gatwick (LGW), sit on the Right side for the best views. Gatwick's main runway 08R/26L means westbound departures typically head east first then turn northwest. On a departure climbing northwest, the right side gives views over the Surrey Hills and the Thames valley toward London. The left side faces south toward the relatively featureless Weald of Kent and Sussex. Notable sights include: Surrey Hills AONB, Thames River snaking toward central London, the urban sprawl of Croydon and south London, Epsom Downs racecourse.
What can I see when landing at Halifax International in Halifax?
When landing at Halifax International (YHZ), sit on the Left side for the best views. Halifax Stanfield typically uses runway 14/32. Arrivals from the northeast on runway 32 approach from the Atlantic side, and the left side of the aircraft faces southeast toward Halifax Harbour, the Bedford Basin, and the Dartmouth waterfront. The right side looks inland over forested Nova Scotia with little of interest. Notable sights include: Halifax Harbour and the Narrows, Bedford Basin, McNabs Island, the Dartmouth waterfront.
How long is the flight from London to Halifax?
The flight from Gatwick (LGW) to Halifax International (YHZ) takes Approximately 7.5 to 8.5 hours westbound.
What does the London to Halifax flight path pass over?
The great circle route from LGW to YHZ tracks northwest over Ireland, then across the North Atlantic passing south of Iceland and south of Greenland's tip, before crossing the Labrador Sea and making landfall over Newfoundland or southern Labrador. Key features include the Irish coastline near Cork or Waterford, the open North Atlantic with possible iceberg sightings at lower latitudes in spring, the rugged Newfoundland coastline with its fjords and barrens, and the boreal forest of Nova Scotia on descent.