Like I've mentioned before, the flight paths don't have anything to do with shortest distances. It has to do with what is most beneficial for the aircraft....fuel usage and air resistance.
To give him proper credit, one should note that fuel usage by itself DOES correspond to shortest path. And as for air resistance, that largely depends on the speed at which you fly, not the path itself.
Well there is thruth in both of it. To EarthIsASpaceship. Which do you think is the most beneficial in terms of fuel. Let's keep it simple.
let's take away winds and there is
only the distance to consider. One route is 1000 km long and there is one of 1200 km long. Which one would you choose?
The 1000 km route is the shortest one so you will burn the least fuel, you agree?
However, is the shortest route also the most economical at all times? No. This has to do with changes in winds and yes that is air resistance. If there is a strong head wind of 200 km/h on the 1000 km route, the 1200 km route is the most economical in this case. Given that there is no head wind on that route of course.
In my example, if there would only be a 20 km/h head wind on the 1200 km route, the 1000 km route becomes the most economical again. So you see that despite the strong headwind the shortest route is quite favourable. That is why planes often fly close to the shortest route possible.