10 Longest Flights in the World by Distance

If you have traveled on a long-haul flight from the USA to India nonstop, then you must have probably wondered, at some point during your 16+ hour flight journey, what could be the longest flight in the world and for how long it flies in the air before reaching the destination. 

It is a known fact that any flight with more than 6 hours of flying time is considered long-haul, but for the question, how long can a plane fly nonstop, the answer depends on a variety of factors, including the aircraft’s size, its fuel efficiency, and its speed. As of now, the world’s longest flight travels close to 19 hours nonstop in the air. Moreover, 10 of the longest flights in the world today have a flight duration ranging between 17 h 30 m and 18 h 50 m. Find the details of these flights below.

10 Longest Flights in the World Now 

1. Singapore to New York

Operating Airline: Singapore Airlines 

Approximate Distance: 9,540 miles

Approximate Flight Time: 18 hours 50 minutes 

SIN-JFK is the longest flight in operation today. The long-range and wide-bodied aircraft, Airbus A350, is used by Singapore Airlines to run flights on this route. 

2. Singapore to Newark

Operating Airline: Singapore Airlines 

Approximate Distance: 9,520 miles

Approximate Flight Time: 18 hours 45 minutes 

The second-longest flight in the world crosses 10 time zones during its 18 h 45 m journey all the way from Singapore which sits at the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula in South East Asia to Newark settled on the East Coast of the USA. 

3. Perth to London

Operating Airline: Qantas

Approximate Distance: 9,010 miles

Approximate Flight Time: 17 hours 15 minutes 

This is the longest route that Qantar operates on. Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, whose seat capacity in three classes is 236, flies between Perth and London.  

4. Melbourne to Dallas

Operating Airline: Qantas

Approximate Distance: 8,992 miles

Approximate Flight Time: 17 hours 35 minutes 

Qantas Airlines announced that it would begin operation on this route on 2 December 2022. Four flights per week will be available to Melbourne from Dallas/Fort Worth Airport (DFW) from December. 

5. Auckland to New York

Operating Airline: Air New Zealand 

Approximate Distance: 8,828 miles

Approximate Flight Time: 17 hours 35 minutes 

Auckland-New York flights are yet to be launched. Air New Zealand will serve the first-ever nonstop route between the South Pacific and the East Coast with three weekly flights, starting September 17, 2022. 

6. Dubai to Auckland

Operating Airline: Emirates 

Approximate Distance: 8,824 miles

Approximate Flight Time: 17 hours 10 minutes 

Emirates will resume Dubai to Auckland flights, which are among the longest flights in the world, from 2 December 2022. 

7. Singapore to Los Angeles

Operating Airlines: Singapore & United Airlines

Approximate Distance: 8,770 miles

Approximate Flight Time: 17 hours (SQ); 17 hours 50 minutes (UA)

Singapore Airlines and United Airlines fly passengers from Singapore to Los Angeles over the Pacific Ocean in about 17 to 18 hours. United operates the SIN-LAX flights using Boeing 787-9 aircraft while Singapore relies on Airbus A350.  

8. Bangalore to San Francisco

Operating Airline: Air India 

Approximate Distance: 8,701 miles

Approximate Flight Time: 17 hours 40 minutes 

Nonstop flights between India’s Silicon Valley and the world’s Silicon Valley and India’s Silicon Valley are always in demand among business and leisure travelers alike. Currently, Air India is the only airline flying between these two tech hubs in the respective countries. United Airlines is likely to introduce its direct SFO-BLR flights by the end of this year.   

9. Darwin to London

Operating Airline: Qantas 

Approximate Distance: 8,620 miles

Approximate Flight Time: 17 hours 55 minutes 

Qantas operates yet another longest flight in the world, from Darwin to London. The Australia-based airline actually started flying on this route when its Perth-London flights were suspended due to COVID restrictions in 2020. 

10. Houston to Sydney

Operating Airline: United Airlines

Approximate Distance: 8,596 miles

Approximate Flight Time: 17 hours 35 minutes 

The tenth longest flight in the world flies from Houston to Sydney. United Airlines will restart its services on this route from October 28, 2022.

Also Read: Difference Between a Direct Flight and Nonstop Flight

In Proposal: To-Be Longest Flight in the World 

Qantas Airways, which already runs three of the ten longest flights in the world, is planning to introduce direct connectivity between Sydney and London by the end of 2025. The two cities are located more than 10,500 miles apart. When introduced, the Sydney to London flight, which might take about 21 hours to traverse more than ten thousand miles, would replace the SIN-JFK flight to become the longest flight in the world.