The innovation of ultra-long range aircraft has certainly transformed global connectivity. Aircraft models such as the Airbus A350, Boeing 787, and Boeing 777 have revolutionized air travel by enabling non-stop flights between cities that are thousands of miles apart. This signifies a marked improvement in point-to-point connections. As of July 2023, OAG’s report presents a list of the longest non-stop flights worldwide.
The table of longest flights is compiled based on OAG’s airline schedules data, and ranks commercial flights by the Great Circle Distance (GCD) in kilometers. GCD is a method of calculating a flight’s length which takes into consideration the Earth’s spherical shape. Therefore, the shortest route for a flight isn’t a straight line drawn between two points on a 2D map, but rather an arc along the Earth’s surface.
The World’s Longest Non-Stop Flights as of July 2023
| Ranking July 2023 | Market Pair (Airport) | Dep Airport Name | Arr Airport Name | GCD (km) | Ranking July 2022 | Carrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | JFK-SIN | New York J F Kennedy International Apt | Singapore Changi Apt | 15,332 | 1 | Singapore Airlines |
| 2 | EWR-SIN | Newark Liberty International Apt | Singapore Changi Apt | 15,329 | 2 | Singapore Airlines |
| 3 | LHR-PER | London Heathrow Apt | Perth | 14,499 | 3 | Qantas Airways |
| 4 | DFW-MEL | Dallas Dallas/Fort Worth Intl Apt | Melbourne Airport | 14,468 | 4 | Qantas Airways |
| 5 | AKL-JFK | Auckland International Apt | New York J F Kennedy International Apt | 14,209 | 5 | Air New Zealand, Qantas |
| 6 | AKL-DXB | Auckland International Apt | Dubai International | 14,193 | 6 | Emirates |
| 7 | LAX-SIN | Los Angeles International | Singapore Changi Apt | 14,096 | 7 | Singapore Airlines |
| 8 | BLR-SFO | Bengaluru | San Francisco | 13,982 | 8 | Air India |
| 9 | DFW-SYD | Dallas Dallas/Fort Worth Intl Apt | Sydney Kingsford Smith Apt | 13,802 | – | Qantas Airways |
| 10 | JFK-MNL | New York J F Kennedy International Apt | Manila Ninoy Aquino International Apt | 13,691 | – | Philippine Airlines |
1. Singapore Airlines: New York to Singapore
Singapore Airlines currently holds the record for the longest commercial flight you can book, flying non-stop from New York John F Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Singapore Changi (SIN). This impressive 15,332 km journey, made possible with an Airbus A350-900, has held the top spot since 2021. Passengers aboard this flight can expect an average travel time of 18 hours and 40 minutes.
2. Singapore Airlines: Newark to Singapore
Singapore Changi makes another appearance in the second-longest flight route, this time from Newark Liberty International (EWR). This route, also operated by Singapore Airlines and on an Airbus A350-900, covers a distance of 15,329 km. Up until the introduction of the JFK-Singapore route, this flight was the world’s longest route from 2004-2013 and again from 2018-2020.
3. Qantas: Perth to London Heathrow
Qantas Airways connects Perth (PER) to London Heathrow (LHR) in a long-haul flight that covers 14,499 km. This route, operated using a Boeing 787-9, has a scheduled flight time of 17 hours and 45 minutes, making it the only top-10 route featuring a European airport.
4. Qantas: Dallas Fort Worth to Melbourne
Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) is a well-known hub for Australian visitors seeking connections to 193 US destinations. The flight from Dallas to Melbourne (MEL) takes 17 hours and 35 minutes, covering a distance of 14,468 km. Qantas Airways operates this flight using a Boeing 787-9.
5. Air New Zealand: Auckland to New York
Air New Zealand pioneered non-stop flights from Auckland International (AKL) to New York (JFK) in 2022. This 14,209 km route, flown by both Air New Zealand and Qantas on a Boeing 787-9, has a scheduled flight time of 16 hours 15 minutes.
6. Emirates: Auckland to Dubai
Emirates flies from Auckland International to Dubai International (DXB), covering a distance of 14,193 km on an Airbus A380-800. In 2016, this was the longest flight in the world, and now it lands in one of the busiest global airports after a 17 hour and 5-minute flight.
7. Singapore Airlines: Los Angeles to Singapore
At number 7, we have Singapore Airlines again, this time flying from Los Angeles (LAX) to Singapore Changi. First flown by United Airlines in 2016, this 14,096 km route was initially the longest non-stop flight from the US.
8. Air India: Bengaluru to San Francisco
The only Air India flight in the top 10 list flies from Bengaluru (BLR) to San Francisco (SFO), covering a distance of 13,982 km with a Boeing 777-200LR. Air India recently announced the addition of 470 new airplanes to their fleet, promising even more extended routes in the future.
9. Qantas: Dallas to Sydney
For the fourth time, Qantas Airways makes our list, this time with a route from Dallas Fort Worth to Sydney Kingsford Smith (SYD). This 13,802 km journey, operated on a Boeing 787-9, was the longest commercial flight in the world in 2014 and 2015. Departing in the evening, it lasts 16 hours and 45 minutes, crossing the International Date Line to arrive in Sydney two days later.
10. Philippine Airlines: New York to Manila
Last on our list, but certainly not least, is the route from New York (JFK) to Manila Ninoy Aquino (MNL), operated by Philippine Airlines on an Airbus A350-900. Covering a distance of 13,691 km, this route just made it to the list in July 2023, replacing United’s Houston-Sydney route.
There are instances when PAL employs its Boeing 777-300ER for the Manila-New York journey, although typically, this route is managed by their A350-900s.
As the progress of aircraft technology persists, I anticipate the emergence of more ultra-long haul routes. This is contributing to a gradual shift away from the hub-and-spoke model, with point-to-point models becoming increasingly prevalent. This list of the longest non-stop flights worldwide in 2023 may however change in time.
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