The answer is yes, but the “why” is where we get stumped.
The earth spins eastward, so you'd think that flying west should go quicker, since your destination is literally getting closer to you. However, it is indeed faster to fly from west to east. Planes are equally affected by the earth’s spin, which means when we’re flying in one, we’re actually being held back from where we’re going; even though the place is being pushed toward us, the plane is being pushed away from it.
Then there are the jet streams, which are basically like those moving walkways at the airport that nobody knows how to use (seriously, why are you blocking the whole lane with your luggage?!), but for a plane. They simply move faster when they’re tucked into a giant gust of wind.
Jet streams occur at high altitudes and are a result of atmospheric heating working in tandem with the earth’s rotation. They move in wavy, eastward patterns across the sky, so a pilot hops in one and basically goes for a joyride. A recent Virgin Atlantic flight broke a record when they hit 801 miles an hour while riding a jet stream from Los Angeles to London -- and to think, you were calmly watching the in-flight movie, none the wiser.
I’m kind of picturing this:
Airlines basically look at satellites and weather-tracking tools (jetstreams are also how storms travel) ahead of flights to determine jet stream patterns to find the best route for a plane. It’s done carefully, of course, to avoid certain hazards that can come from traveling through jet streams. They can be filled with clear-air turbulence, for example, which is why even the pilot of your flight sometimes sounds surprised by a bout of bumpiness.
So, next time you’re sitting on the tarmac in your middle economy seat three hours late at LAX, take some solace in the knowledge that your return flight will go smoother (as far as the earth is concerned, at least).