average speed of commercial airliner
Credit: 1950s unlimited. Specified cruising speeds for commercial airliners today range between about 480 and 510 knots, compared to 525 knots for the Boeing 707, a mainstay of 1960s jet travel. Why? âThe main issue is fuel economy,â says Aeronautics and Astronautics professor Mark Drela. âGoing faster eats more fuel per passenger-mile.