Why does a commercial airplane mostly fly at a height of 36000 feet?

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Ynot

As an aircraft flies higher the air gets thinner causing less friction allowing the aircraft to fly faster, but it also requires more air (oxygen) to be passed through the engines making the engine size and weight greater for the same power. A height of 36,000 ft is the aircraft designers choice for peak overall efficiency.
Aircraft height on any route is controlled by the worlds air lanes and air traffic control to avoid mid-air collisions, and it can also be varied according to weather and high altitude wind speed which can significantly affect an aircraft's fuel efficiency.

The Shadow

There are actually two reasons.

As noted in previous answers, jet airliners are more efficient at higher altitude than at lower altitude. Consequently, most fly at 30,000-40,000 feet except for short flights when it is impractical and inefficient to climb that high.

The second reason is weather. At high altitudes, airliners fly over most inclement weather and turbulence. That provides a smoother, more comfortable ride and fewer diversions to go around bad weather. During the early days of commercial air travel, when all airplanes were unpressurized, they had to fly at low altitudes. Consequently, they had to contend with choppy air and fly around bad weather.

private_jet_charter

Most commercial aircraft fly at the higher altitudes because the air is thinner there and the aircraft run more efficiently. Also you are usually up higher then the weather and makes for a more comfortable flight for the passengers.

Square Pants

flying at 30000 feet will consume less fuel compare if flying lower than that.. main reason, fuel consumption..did you know that wing also work as fuel tank? and wing is not that big.. so fuel must meet the needed of aircraft journey.. to do so, aircraft must fly above 30000feet where fuel consumption is low due to thin air..

digitalchinky

Between 30 and about 45 thousand feet turbines operate with much better efficiency. The bottom line, it saves money.

$Sun King$

Well Ynot has my vote. Besides, at 36,000 ft, there's not much to run into, except other airplanes. LOL!

Tosh T

Its something to do with efficiency I think.

tommysgirl

There is less "Drag" at higher altitudes, thus making the aircraft more efficient in regards to fuel consumption.

Mime

The further away you get from the earth the less gravity there is therefore the less stress on the engine and fuel requirment....
but there is less oxygen up there which results in Incomplete combustion which causes global dimming.... planes r bad...

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