Passengers ‘fly back in time’ as flight takes off from Hong Kong in 2025 and will land in Los Angeles back in 2024
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PASSENGERS will "fly back in time" this evening as their flight takes off from Hong Kong in 2025 and will land in Los Angeles back in 2024. A group of people will have the chance to raise a toast to the New Year twice thanks to crossing the International Date Line (IDL) during their flight.
![[This flight took off from Hong Kong in 2025 and will land in Los Angeles back in 2024]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/NINTCHDBPICT000960786355.jpg?strip=all&w=738)
The IDL is an imaginary line across the Pacific Ocean that demarcates two consecutive calendar dates. In other words, for anyone crossing the lDL travelling East they will lose a day and for those going West, they will gain a day. These passengers will therefore leave Hong Kong in the early hours of New Year's day and arrive in LA on New Year's Eve.
![[Passengers will 'fly back in time' this evening]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/a350-941-passenger-plane-belonging-449401386.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
The IDL has no legal international status but is widely understood as the separation between Eastern and Western hemispheres. Those aboard Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong will get a whole other evening of celebrations in when they touchdown in the US at about 8pm.
The National US Ocean Service said: "When you cross the date line, you become a time traveller of sorts!. "Cross to the west and it’s one day later; cross back and you’ve 'gone back in time'.". So for anyone looking to keep the party going this year - perhaps a time travel flight is just the ticket.
This comes as New Year's Eve celebrations are kicking off - or have already finished - across the globe. In London, The iconic New Year's Eve fireworks is set to go ahead as planned at midnight despite serious concerns over the weather. A London mayor spokesperson confirmed the event will continue with revellers already preparing for the shift into 2025.
