Polar flights save time, eliminate stopovers

June 9, 2000
Web posted at: 2:53 p.m. EDT (1853 GMT)

(CNN) -- Having to spend hours and hours aboard a plane could be one of the biggest drawbacks to transoceanic flights. But soon some travelers will enjoy significantly shorter flights, thanks to a change in flight patterns.

Beginning next month, Russia and Canada will allow regular travel over the North Pole. Airlines then will be able to fly more directly from the United States to Asia.

	VIDEO
CNN National Correspondent Bob Franken shows how over-the-pole flights save time. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K

A trip from New York to Hong Kong, for instance, now takes 17 hours. Over the North Pole, it will take five hours less. Detroit to Beijing will be down from 14 to 10 hours actual flying time.

Why didn't this happen sooner?

After the Cold War ended, there were still diplomatic complications as well as obsolete equipment and procedures that prevented the new flight patterns. Now, various airlines are flying over the North Pole on a test basis.

Flights from New York to Hong Kong now take 17 hours; the new polar routes will take just 12 hours

On July 1, the routes open permanently, and airlines can schedule regular flights. Russia and Canada expect to charge fees in the hundreds of millions for use of their airspace.

But the airlines still expect big savings. Fuel costs will drop and so will landing fees, as stopovers will no longer be necessary.

It's unclear whether the savings will translate to lower fares. One airline spokesman said "probably not." Another suggested that it might stave off any increases.

Still, passengers are welcoming a savings in time.

"It's very tiring," said one man, weary from the transoceanic voyage. "If there's a way that you can shorten the flight, that'd be great."

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