There is certain speed below which an airplane will not be able to create adequate force to keep flying. The maximum working velocity profile above that certain air surrounding a plane's wing reaches supersonic speeds, stressing the structure beyond its system boundaries. The stall velocity of a plane rises as its altitude rises because the air becomes thin and the plane must travel higher to retain its height. While the maximum operational Mach number remains unchanged, the absolute maximum velocity a plane can fly falls as it reach certain height because the speed of sound slows as temperature drops and therefore as altitude rises. Different types of planes have different optimum operational Mach numbers; some planes are "naturally" speedier than others. Most notably, jets are faster than propellers.

The wind speed is another aspect that affects how quickly a plane travels. The velocity at which a plane travels in relation to the air is unaffected by wind direction and velocity. They do have an impact on the plane's landing speed, or how fast it goes compared to the ground. They're frequently the most important factor in determining how long a flight takes.

Planes do not travel at their maximum speeds. Flying at highway speeds is quite wasteful in terms of fuel consumption. It would expense the airlines hundreds of dollars more, causing ticket costs to rise. The amount of money being spent by the airline or the customers does not match the time saved by driving at top speed to the location.

This is not feasible for passenger-carrying commercial planes. The planet's circumference is 24,901 miles. To accomplish it around the Earth in one day, the aircraft would have to travel at a speed of around 1,040 miles per hour. A contemporary jet could do this, but most commercial planes fly at around 500 to 550 miles an hour. Today’s modern longest direct flights go between 8,000 and 9,500 miles in 16 to 18 hours. Such lengthy flights are quite stressful for the pilots. They usually divide flying responsibilities among four persons and rest in between stints.

The majority of commercial flights and jetliners fly at 150 to 175 miles per hour. Usually, the smaller the aircraft, the slower it must take off. This is due to the fact that smaller planes are lighter, requiring less velocity and energy to take off. Small passenger plane can take off at speeds of less than 100 mph, and some can even take off below 50 mph. The kind and mass of the plane have no bearing on takeoff speed. Wind speed, outdoor average temperature, and air density are the determining factors. With a tailwind, taking off is more hard. The plane's rear and wings lack the aerodynamics required to produce lift.