Eli5 Why do European flights flight paths to the U.S go via the UK and not just straight across the ocean?

Question

Eli5 Why do European flights flight paths to the U.S go via the UK and not just straight across the ocean?

In: Other

Answer 1

Part of it is great circle distance as everyone has already stated, the other part is due to safety protocols developed by the International Civil Aviation Organization like ETOPs and EDTO which limits the amount of distance you can fly away from an alternate landing location when flying civil aircraft over water. This is becoming less of an issue with increased engine reliability that allow aircraft to fly further away from alternate landing locations.