Long-haul flights may not always be the most convenient, but when it comes to travel, they can have their perks. You save yourself the hassle of changing planes and hours of waiting at a foreign airport during a stopover – where, in the worst case, you can get lost or buy expensive food and souvenirs to pass the time. Such flight connections often connect two very popular destinations that are separated by a large ocean, such as the Atlantic or Pacific. This also applies to the future longest flight in the world.
Longest flight in the world is scheduled for 2025
The Australian airline Qantas plans to add the longest non-stop flights in the world to its route network by the end of 2025. The flights are to connect Australian cities on the east coast such as Sydney and Melbourne with London and New York in around 19 hours.
In October 2019 there was already a test flight. This was carried out because such a long flight is very exhausting. The flight duration was 19 hours and 15 minutes. There were only 49 people on board, including the four pilots and the crew, including doctors and scientists who were investigating the effects of a flight that lasts so long. The “Sunshine Project” was also part of the flight: With the help of lighting conditions, stimulating or filling food and on-board movement, the sleeping rhythm was to be influenced in such a way that jet lag was kept to a minimum.
Qantas will carry 238 passengers in four classes (First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy) with the Airbus A350-1000, it said. “The cabin is specifically configured for enhanced comfort on long flights and includes a center comfort area and more spacious seating in Premium Economy and Economy cabins,” said Qantas.
The currently longest non-stop flight in the world
Singapore Airlines’ currently longest non-stop scheduled flight connects Singapore with New York without changing planes. The flight, which has been in existence since 2018, has so far covered a distance of 15,349 kilometers and takes around 17.5 hours, according to Bloomberg.
Currently you can fly daily with Singapore Airlines in an Airbus A350-900ULR from Singapore directly to JFK Airport in New York. A special feature on the flight: higher ceilings, larger windows and special lighting should bring comfort to reduce jet lag.
The top 10 longest non-stop flights in the world by distance
1. Singapore – New York, 15,349 kilometers
Singapore Airlines, Airbus A350-900ULR, duration: approx. 17:30 hours
2. Auckland (New Zealand) – Doha (Qatar), 14,535 kilometers
Qatar, Boeing 777-200LR, duration: approx. 16:23 hours
3. Perth (Australia) – London, 14,498 kilometers
Qantas, Boeing 787-9, duration: approx. 17:10 hours
4. Auckland – Dubai, 14,200 kilometers
Emirates, Airbus A380-800, duration: approx. 17:25 hours
5. Los Angeles – Singapore, 14,114 kilometers
United Airlines, Boeing 787-9, duration: approx. 17:30 hours
6. San Francisco – Bangalore, 14,000 km
Air India, Boeing 777-200LR, duration: approx. 17:45 hours
7. Houston – Sydney, 13,830 kilometers
United Airlines, Boeing 787-9, duration: approx. 17:30 hours
8. Dallas – Sydney, 13,801 kilometers
Qantas, Airbus A380-800, duration: approx. 16:55 hours
9. Manila – New York, 13,700 kilometers (from October 2018)
Philippine Airlines, Boeing 777-300ER, duration: approx. 17:20 hours
10. San Francisco – Singapore, 13,593 kilometers
United Airlines/Singapore Airlines, Boeing 787-9/Airbus A350-900, duration: approx. 17 hours
Jet streams, tail or head winds as well as unusual routes are partly responsible for the fact that a longer flight time is required for supposedly shorter routes and vice versa.