Is It Possible to Catch the Aurora Borealis from Your Flight?

Watching the Northern lights, or the Aurora Borealis, is a bucket list adventure. While numerous people travel to the far north for an immersive experience, very few are fortunate to be surrounded by surreal blue and green waves in the night sky. A breathtaking moment awaits these lucky few while they rest unsuspectingly in their aeroplane seats. 

Now imagine witnessing the breathtaking Aurora Borealis from your flight window. Could you be one of the lucky few in for an unforgettable experience? Absolutely! 

Here's everything you need to know about the Northern Lights and how to view them from your aeroplane seat!  

The Northern Lights, or the Aurora Borealis, are a stunning natural light display visible in regions near the Arctic Circle. These lights are formed when charged particles carried by the solar wind collide with the Earth's atmosphere at an altitude of about 80–250 kilometres. Our planet's magnetic field protects us by redirecting the particles over the poles, creating auroras that slowly fade upwards into invisibility. 

 A few airlines flying in regions that experience Northern lights offer discounts to travellers interested in witnessing this remarkable natural phenomenon, with the best chance of viewing them in late November, close to the winter solstice. 

It is easier to spot the Northern lights on a commercial flight, given that the aircraft will be above cloud cover without significant light pollution. It is worth noting that the next few years will allow us to experience vivid spectacles as we approach solar maximum! 

"A few years ago, I'd spent a small fortune on a Northern Lights viewing trip to Iceland, got cold and wet and saw nothing in the sky but cloud and rain. Later that year I was on a Philippine Airlines flight from London to Manila and in the middle of the night, somewhere over Finland or Russia, the captain woke up passengers to announce that the Northern Lights were visible. I was lucky enough to have a port side window seat and it was a magnificent sight." 

-David George, CEO, Brookfield Aviation International 

Here are some recommendations to improve your chances of seeing the Northern Lights: 

• Travel on a flight that takes you close to the Arctic Circle at nighttime, preferably on a night without reflection from the moon, as the lights are not visible during the day.  

• Plan your journey between late November and the end of December. 

• Travel on a route close to the Arctic Circle, for instance, over Iceland, Alaska, or Finland. 

• Check the weather forecast for minimal cloud cover. 

• High solar flare activity increases your chance of seeing the phenomenon. 

• Book a window seat on the side of the plane, which will face the pole. 

If you need further information before you plan your flight, you can look up recent weather updates and activity with the Icelandic Met Office, the Space Weather Prediction Center or the Finnish Meteorological Institute. 

However, witnessing the phenomenon is still down to luck!  

Have you ever seen the Northern Lights from a plane? Tell us about it in the comments!