Fast facts about winds and aviation

Can planes fly in high winds?

In general, the answer is yes. In addition to the fact that modern aircraft are designed to perform well in very high winds, pilots around the world must be able to demonstrate skill at flying in windy conditions in order to become licensed. Just as rain is almost never a barrier to safe flying, even relatively high winds are rarely an issue.

Planes can take off and land in most (but not all) cases of high winds.

Of course, there are situations where strong winds prevent take-off or landing or can result in turbulence during flight — we’ll get to those shortly. 

What speed of wind delays flights?

Take-off and landing are the only times during a flight when high winds can result in flight delays — almost every flight deals with high winds at some point during its climb or descent. With this in mind, horizontal winds (also known as “crosswinds”) in excess of 30-35 kts (about 34-40 mph) generally affect take-off and landing. Very high wind speeds can cause a plane to have to abort its landing.

Can planes take off in high winds? If crosswinds are strong while the plane is at the gate, air traffic controllers may simply delay departure, as they would during heavy snow. And if crosswinds are strong when the plane is preparing to land, the pilot may decide to abort the landing for safety reasons.

Landing in crosswinds: Fact vs internet fiction

While some landings can look pretty scary on video, the fact is that pilots are trained to land in crosswinds and to know when it’s best to give up and attempt another go around. So while crosswinds make for great viral videos, they’re not particularly dangerous. As is the case with turbulence, crosswinds are almost certainly not going to bring your plane down.

Upper level winds vs lower level winds

The wind speeds that delay or cancel flights are much different on the ground than in upper levels of the atmosphere. In fact, high-altitude winds can actually significantly reduce the amount of time a flight takes — at least when they come from behind. 

At cruising altitude, a wind known as the jet stream can speed up a plane’s journey. Tailwinds are gusts that usually occur when planes are flying eastward, such as from the US to Europe. They can shave more than an hour off long-haul flights during certain times of the year.

On the other hand, headwinds can cause a flight to take longer, which is why westbound routes (such as those from much of the US to East Asia) tend to take longer than their eastbound counterparts. Another instance in which winds can result in flight delays is when they’re accompanied by thunderstorms during the initial climb or descent.

Final thoughts: Can planes fly in high winds?

Pilots are well trained to fly in a variety of weather conditions, and modern aircrafts have been designed to perform well alongside the pilots' expertise. Crosswinds on the ground may make it tricky to take off or land safely, so it's possible that wind speeds can cancel or delay flights. If your flight gets cancelled, you can rebook or get a refund. Try not to stress and stay patient as the airline sorts out next steps.