According to USA Today, a Boeing 767 has a service ceiling of 43,000 feet. The service ceiling is the maximum density altitude an airliner can reach according to its design. However, travelers are more likely find themselves in the air at a cruising altitude of around 35,000 feet.

The Boeing 767 has a certified service ceiling, or maximum operating altitude, of 43,100 feet (approximately 13,100 meters). In standard commercial operations, however, you will rarely find a 767 flying at this absolute limit. Most long-haul flights cruise between 30,000 and 39,000 feet, depending on the aircraft's weight, the outside air temperature, and Air Traffic Control instructions. As the plane burns fuel and becomes lighter during a long flight, it may perform a "step climb" to a higher altitude—potentially reaching 41,000 feet—to take advantage of thinner air and improved fuel efficiency. Flying at the absolute maximum altitude requires the aircraft to be relatively light; a fully loaded 767 taking off for a trans-Atlantic journey would initially be restricted to much lower altitudes. The 43,100-foot limit is a structural and aerodynamic boundary designed to ensure the engines can still produce sufficient thrust and that the cabin pressurization system can safely maintain a breathable environment for the passengers and crew inside.