More people are flying to destinations this year than in the previous couple of years. Unfortunately, the airports and airlines have not been able to ramp up their staff to adequately handle the increased business. The result is unexpected and unpredictable delays. If a flight is delayed for whatever reason, its connecting flights may be delayed to accommodate passengers on incoming flights. On a recent flight, there were delays because they could not get the luggage loaded onto the plane in time, then, there was another delay while we waited for a ramp vehicle to become available to push the plane back from the gate. For all of these delays, we were sealed up in the plane on the tarmac. If you think the passengers were annoyed, remember that the flight crew were probably more annoyed because they do not start getting paid until the plane is pushed away from the gate.
In the air, all went well but arriving had more delays. You may be familiar with clover leaf exits on expressways, but are you aware that something similar happens when approaching the landing strip of a major airport? Look at the picture above. The plane comes in from the left of the picture then does a loop to the south followed by a loop the the north. In the next picture it proceeds to the right then loops back to the left to make a final approach to the runway.
There was a delay on the return trip too.
The flights between Toronto and London make an arc to the north towards the southern tip of Greenland. Because of the curvature of the earth, and prevailing winds, this is the best route.
I had an inside seat so I could not take pictures out of the window. However, on a trip to the washroom, I was impressed by this view.
