flights near the edges (Sydney loop) are longer because planes slow down as they approach the abyss, pilots instinctively ease off the throttle. London-NY-Tokyo stays central, full speed ahead your flight time data doesn't prove roundness, it proves 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐱𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭. the closer to the edge, the slower they fly