Sights from the plane
Seeing the Alps and Mont Blanc from a plane
Flights from London to Nice, Geneva, Zurich and Innsbruck all meet the Alps, but on different sides and at different moments.
Mont Blanc (4,806 m) is the target for most people. From London to Nice it is on the left, about an hour into the flight. Into Geneva it is on the left on the usual landing towards the south-west.
Into Zurich by day you land heading for the Alps, with the Bernese Oberland on the right. Into Innsbruck the mountains are on both sides; the valley walls rise above the plane on the way down.
Which side, by route
- London Gatwick → Nice L Mont Blanc (northern Alps), about 65 min after take-off · Likely on this side
- Nice → London Gatwick R Mont Blanc (northern Alps), about 23 min after take-off · Likely on this side
- London Heathrow → Geneva either Mont Blanc, on landing · Depends on the runway in use
- Geneva → London Heathrow either Mont Blanc, on take-off · Depends on the runway in use
- London Gatwick → Innsbruck R Saentis (Appenzell Alps), about 71 min after take-off · Likely on this side
- Innsbruck → London Gatwick L Saentis (Appenzell Alps), about 14 min after take-off · Likely on this side
- London Heathrow → Zurich either Eiger / Jungfrau (Bernese Oberland), on landing · Depends on the runway in use
- Zurich → London Heathrow either Eiger / Jungfrau (Bernese Oberland), on take-off · Depends on the runway in use