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AIR transportation by plane makes it easier for us to reach one city to another, even between countries. However, did you know, there are several flights that cross several continents, holding the title of longest flight in the world?
Quoted from the Flight Radar 24 recently, here are the 10 longest flights in the world and their travel times:
1. Singapore Airlines SQ23 and SQ24-New York (JFK)-Singapore (SIN)
The longest flight in the world is held by Singapore Airlines which serves flights from John F Kennedy airport in New York, USA to Singapore.
Singapore Airlines flight SQ23 is served using an Airbus A350-900ULR aircraft and has held the position of the world’s longest commercial flight since November 2020. This flight covers a distance of 15,349 km, has a flight time of 18 hours 50 minutes, and departs at 22.30 from New York JFK (JFK), arriving in Singapore (SIN) at 05.20 local time.
Flight Radar 24 data shows flight SQ23 had an average flight time of 18 hours 27 minutes. Flights from Singapore (SIN) to JFK, namely SQ24, currently have an average flight time of 18 hours 10 minutes.
2. Singapore Airlines SQ21 and SQ22-Newark New Jersey (EWR)-Singapore (SIN)
Singapore Airlines also holds the second position for the longest flight in the world, Flight SQ23 is SQ21, also using Airbus A350-900ULR aircraft and has been operating in its current format since March 2022.
This flight covers a distance of 15,344 km, has a travel time of 18 hours 45 minutes, and departs at 10.00 from Newark (EWR), arriving in Singapore (SIN) at 17.10. Flight SQ22 from Singapore (SIN) has an average flight time of 17 hours 58 minutes.
3. Qatar Airways QR921 and QR920-Auckland (AKL)-Doha (DOH)
Qatar Airways flights QR921 and QR920 are the third longest flights in the world and cover a distance of 14,535 km. Qatar Airways uses Airbus A350-1000 aircraft on this route.
QR921 departs Auckland (AKL), New Zealand at 15:00 and arrives in Doha (DOH) at 23:15. The current average flight time for QR921 is 16 hours 34 minutes. Flight QR920 departs Doha (DOH) at 01.50 and arrives in Auckland (AKL) at 02.45 and currently has an average flight time of 15 hours 34 minutes. QR921 and QR920 were once the longest flights in the world.
4. Qantas QF9 and QF10-Perth (PER)-London Heathrow (LHR)
The fourth longest flight in the world and the longest flight operated by Qantas is QF9 Perth (PER) to London Heathrow (LHR). This flight covers a distance of less than 14,500 km and has a scheduled duration of 17 hours 25 minutes.
The latest average flight time according to Flightradar24 data is 16 hours 57 minutes. This is the longest route flown by a Boeing 787 and has been operating with this type since March 2018. The aircraft departs Perth (PER) at 18.45 and arrives at London Heathrow (LHR) as one of the first arrivals of the day at 05.05. The QF10 flight currently has an average flight time of 16 hours 11 minutes.
5. Qantas QF21 and QF22 Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)-Melbourne (MEL)
This flight operates between Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) and Melbourne (MEL) and is 14,472 km. Data shows the average flight time is 17 hours 13 minutes and departs Dallas at 20.05, arriving in Melbourne at 05.25. Qantas also operates Boeing 787-9s on this route. Flight QF21 from Melbourne (MEL) currently has an average flight time of 17 hours 5 minutes.
6. Air New Zealand NZ1 and NZ2 & Qantas QF3 and QF4 New York (JFK)-Auckland (AKL)
The world’s next longest flight is shared between Air New Zealand NZ1 and Qantas QF3, New York JFK (JFK) to Auckland (AKL). This route is Air New Zealand’s longest flight, using a Boeing 787-9 and covering a distance of 14,207 km. NZ1 departs New York at 21.55 and arrives an average of 16 hours 52 minutes later to Auckland.
Qantas also operates Boeing 787-9 aircraft on their third longest route, and departs JFK earlier than NZ1, at 19:30. This flight has an average flight time of 15 hours 20 minutes, compared to QF4’s 15 hours 18 minutes.
7. Emirates EK448 and EK449 Auckland (AKL)-Dubai (DXB)
The longest Airbus A380 flight belongs to Emirates flight EK449 from Auckland (AKL) to Dubai (DXB). Just 7km from Air New Zealand flight NZ1, this flight is also the longest flight operated by Emirates.
EK449 departs Auckland at 20.30, an average of 16 hours 41 minutes later to Dubai. Flight EK448, has a shorter duration of 15 hours 01 minutes from Dubai.
8. Singapore Airlines SQ35 and SQ36 and SQ37 and SQ38 Los Angeles (LAX)-Singapore (SIN)
The next longest flight belongs to Singapore Airlines which flies twice daily from Los Angeles (LAX) to Singapore (SIN). As with the SQ23 and SQ21, the Airbus A350-900ULR is the aircraft of choice for this East to West journey across the Pacific.
SQ35 departs Los Angeles at 21.20 and arrives in Singapore at 05.30. Meanwhile SQ37 departs Los Angeles at 23:40 and arrives an average of 16 hours and 10 minutes later in Singapore. Outbound flights from SQ36 and SQ38 have an average flight time of 15 hours 08 minutes from Singapore.
9. Air India AI175 and AI176 San Francisco (SFO)-Bangalore (BLR)
Boeing 777-200LR’s longest flight and Air India’s longest flight is flight AI176. Flights take an average of 17 hours 22 minutes, and cover a distance of 14,004 km. AI176 departs San Francisco (SFO) at 21.00 and arrives in Bengaluru (BLR) at 03.25.
Many of the world’s longest flights were operated by the Boeing 777-200LR before the advent of new generation aircraft such as the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350. The flight from Bangalore to San Francisco, AI175, has an average flight time of 15 hours 53 minutes.
10. Qantas QF7 and QF8 Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)-Sydney (SYD)
This flight covers a distance of 14,004 km between Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Sydney (SYD). QF9 has an average flight time of 16 hours 44 minutes and is operated with Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
Flight QF6 departs DFW at 22.30 and arrives in SYD at 0.615. This is the longest Qantas operated flight to and from Sydney (SYD). Flights from Sydney, QF7, have an average flight time of 14 hours 22 minutes. [sources/photo special]
