See the 10 longest airline routes in the world, ranked by distance
· Business Insider
Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
- The world's new longest flight will be 22 hours from Sydney to London starting in October 2027.
- Qantas' new routes will dethrone Singapore Airlines' 19-hour flights to New York and New Jersey.
- Ultra-long-haul flights are gaining popularity as travelers prefer nonstop routes over layovers.
The world's longest flights are getting even longer.
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Australian flag carrier Qantas is expected to launch an up to 22-hour flight between Sydney and London in October 2027, known as "Project Sunrise."
At just over 10,500 miles, it would become the world's longest flight — a trek made possible by a specially designed Airbus A350-1000ULR with an extra fuel tank and reduced seat capacity. The airline's second Project Sunrise route will be a 10,000-mile flight from Sydney to New York.
Qantas' new routes would effectively dethrone Singapore Airlines' flights from Singapore to New York-JFK and New Jersey's Newark Liberty, both of which take about 19 hours and cross 9,500 miles. The routes use a modified, premium-only Airbus A350-900ULR, the smaller sibling of the -1000 model.
The ranking of the world's 10 longest flights has steadily shifted as demand for ultra-long-haul flying — typically defined as 16 hours or more and over 8,000 miles — has surged.
Passengers are increasingly willing to spend nearly a full day on a plane rather than endure the added time and stress of a layover, where bags can be lost or connections missed. Travelers who are not, however, should consider stopover deals in airline hubs.
Ultra-long-haul aircraft typically feature premium-heavy cabins as airlines capitalize on growing demand for more comfort, potentially leading to higher ticket prices.
Singapore's A350-900ULRs, for example, only have pricier business and premium economy cabins. Fares typically start around $1,500 round-trip this fall.
Other routes on the list, like China Southern Airlines' Shenzhen-Mexico City flight, charge more than $2,000 for the cheapest seat. First class tickets on Qantas, Emirates, and Qatar Airways often exceed $20,000.
These are the world's longest flights, ranked by distance, according to data from the aviation analytics company Cirium. Qantas will take over the top spots once Project Sunrise launches next year.
10. Los Angeles-SingaporeSingapore AirlinesMassimo Insabato/Archivio Massimo Insabato/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
Airlines: Singapore Airlines
Distance: 8,758 miles
Aircraft: A350-900ULR
Flight time: up to 17 hours
9. Shenzhen-Mexico CityChina Southern.Chen Wen/China News Service via Getty Images
Airline: China Southern Airlines
Distance: 8,778 miles
Aircraft: A350-900
Flight time: 16 hours
China Southern only flies nonstop on the Shenzhen to Mexico City leg because the A350 arrives after burning much of its fuel crossing the Pacific, making it light enough to operate into the high-altitude airport.
The return flight requires a fuel stop in Tijuana because the A350 must be light enough to take off from Mexico City's 7,300-foot-high airport, preventing it from carrying enough fuel to reach Shenzhen nonstop.
8. Auckland-DubaiEmirates.Mike Campbell/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Airline: Emirates
Distance: 8,810 miles
Aircraft: A380
Flight time: up to 17 hours
7. Auckland-New York-JFKAir New Zealand.Kevin Carter/Getty Images
Airline: Air New Zealand and Qantas
Distance: 8,813 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 787
Flight time: up to 18 hours
6. Paris-PerthQantas.Alexi Rosenfeld#JM/Getty Images for Qantas
Airline: Qantas
Distance: 8,847 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 787
Flight time: up to 17 hours
5. Dallas/Fort Worth-MelbourneQantas.DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images
Airline: Qantas
Distance: 8,973 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 787
Flight time: up to 18 hours
4. London-PerthQantas.David Gray#JM/Getty Images
Airline: Qantas
Distance: 8,988 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 787
Flight time: up to 18 hours
Auckland-DohaQatar Airways.Robert Smith/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Airline: Qatar Airways
Distance: 9,011 miles
Aircraft: Boeing 777
Flight time: up to 17 hours
Qatar Airways paused the nonstop service amid the conflict in nearby Iran, but resumed it in June as a one-stop itinerary via Adelaide, Australia.
It's part of Qatar Airways' broader return to the region, and represents its unique fifth-freedom right to fly between Australia and New Zealand. Cirium shows the nonstop leg from Doha to Auckland resuming in early 2027.
2. Singapore-NewarkSingapore Airlines.Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Airline: Singapore Airlines
Distance: 9,484 miles
Aircraft: A350-900ULR
Flight time: up to 19 hours
1. Singapore-New York-JFKSingapore Airlines.Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Airline: Singapore Airlines
Distance: 9,487 miles
Aircraft: A350-900ULR
Flight time: up to 19 hours
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