The world’s longest nonstop flights, updated
Editor's note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information.
Ultra-long-haul flights are back in the air after a brief pause during the pandemic. These flights, which can take as long as 19 hours, connect some of the world's biggest cities without a stop in an intermediate hub.
Singapore Airlines has long been known for operating some of the world's longest flights. The carrier connects Singapore with two New York City-area airports on a daily basis, and both routes top the list of the world's longest flights.
Other carriers have recently launched new and interesting ultra-long-haul routes, including Air New Zealand's new flight from New York to Auckland, New Zealand, which took off last September.
While Air New Zealand was a newcomer to the top 10 list last year, Qantas is giving the airline a run for its money by launching its own route from New York to Auckland this week. At 8,829 miles, it will tie with Air New Zealand's service as the world's fifth-longest flight.
Qantas is no stranger to ultra-long-haul flying. (It's just too bad its existing wide-body fleet doesn't yet feature Wi-Fi.) The airline also holds the title for the world's third, fourth and 10th longest flights; in a few years, it might also hold the record for the longest.
That's because Qantas' "Project Sunrise" routes will include nonstop service from Sydney to both London (10,573 miles) and New York (9,950 miles). Although the airline ran proof-of-concept tests in 2019, those flights are not expected to launch until at least 2025, so they don't make the list yet.
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So, what are the world's longest routes right now?
Here are the top 10 longest routes operating in June 2023 measured by statute miles as calculated by travel data firm OAG. (Note: For consistency, all mileage calculations come courtesy of OAG. Other data providers may show slightly different mileage calculations depending on their methodology.) Duration of flight data comes from Cirium, an aviation data service.
We've listed the flight that typically has the longest scheduled flying time, normally the one that flies in the direction of typical head winds. Given geopolitical tensions associated with Russia's invasion of Ukraine, some actual flight times might be considerably longer than what is listed as airlines avoid Russian airspace. Other routes that might not normally make the cut — such as Cathay Pacific's New York-to-Hong Kong route — are flying longer-than-normal flight paths as they also seek to avoid Russian airspace.
Additionally, keep in mind that the listed times are those that are blocked in airline schedules; during actual travel, flights can be shorter or longer depending on the winds.
Scroll down to see the full list, and we'll update it regularly as new routes begin and suspended ones resume.
1. Singapore Airlines: New York to Singapore
- Route: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN).
- Flight number: SQ 23/24.
- Aircraft flying: Airbus A350-900ULR.
- Calculated distance: 9,527 miles.
- Duration of flight: 18 hours, 50 minutes.
2. Singapore Airlines: Newark to Singapore
- Route: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to SIN.
- Flight number: SQ 21/22.
- Aircraft flying: Airbus A350-900ULR.
- Calculated distance: 9,525 miles.
- Duration of flight: 18 hours, 45 minutes.
3. Qantas: Perth, Australia, to London
- Route: Perth Airport (PER) to Heathrow Airport (LHR).
- Flight number: QF 9/10.
- Aircraft flying: Boeing 787-9.
- Calculated distance: 9,009 miles.
- Duration of flight: 17 hours, 20 minutes.
4. Qantas: Dallas to Melbourne, Australia
- Route: Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Melbourne Airport (MEL).
- Flight number: QF 21/22.
- Aircraft flying: Boeing 787-9.
- Calculated distance: 8,990 miles.
- Duration of flight: 17 hours, 35 minutes.
5. Air New Zealand: New York to Auckland
- Route: JFK to Auckland Airport (AKL).
- Flight number: NZ 1/2.
- Aircraft flying: Boeing 787-9.
- Calculated distance: 8,829 miles.
- Duration of flight: 17 hours, 35 minutes.
5. Qantas: New York to Auckland
- Route: JFK to AKL.
- Flight number: QF 3/4.
- Aircraft flying: Boeing 787-9.
- Calculated distance: 8,829 miles.
- Duration of flight: 17 hours, 30 minutes.
6. Emirates: Dubai to Auckland
- Route: Dubai International Airport (DXB) to AKL.
- Flight number: EK 448/449.
- Aircraft flying: Airbus A380-800.
- Calculated distance: 8,819 miles.
- Duration of flight: 17 hours, 5 minutes.
7. Singapore Airlines: Los Angeles to Singapore
- Route: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to SIN.
- Flight number: SQ 35/36/37/38.
- Aircraft flying: Airbus A350-900ULR.
- Calculated distance: 8,759 miles.
- Duration of flight: 17 hours, 10 minutes.
8. Air India: San Francisco to Bengaluru, India
- Route: San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Kempegowda International Airport (BLR).
- Flight number: AI 175/176.
- Aircraft flying: Boeing 777-200LR.
- Calculated distance: 8,688 miles.
- Duration of flight: 17 hours, 55 minutes.
9. Qantas: Dallas to Sydney
- Route: DFW to Sydney Airport (SYD).
- Flight number: QF 7/8.
- Aircraft flying: Boeing 787-9.
- Calculated distance: 8,576 miles.
- Duration of flight: 16 hours, 45 minutes.
10: Philippine Airlines: New York to Manila, Philippines
- Route: JFK to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).
- Flight number: PR 126/127.
- Aircraft flying: Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 777-300ER.
- Calculated distance: 8,507 miles.
- Duration of flight: 17 hours.
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