A question about maps and aircrafts?

Question

Firstly, when looking at a map, America is on the far left and Australia is on the bottom right. Why do flights fly all the way across and take anything up to 36 hours. Why dont they go the other way and save time?

Also, how many flights per day are there across the world? Is there anywhere I could find out this information?

Thanks

Answer 1

Most flights from the US to Australia go across the Pacific Ocean, not all the way across the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, and the Indian Ocean. They go the shorter route.