Thanks to the wonders of modern engineering, commercial airliners can now fly distances that were once unthinkable. Consider this: In 1941, in the nascent days of aviation, a typical journey from Los Angeles to Boston took more than 15 hours and required 12 refueling stops along the way. These days, passengers can sit back, relax, and reach one end of the globe from another in a single flight. Word to the wise: Make sure you’re cozy onboard, because you could be on the plane for more than 19 hours. Below, check out seven of the world’s longest flights based on distance traveled, as of 2024.
7. New York (JFK) – Auckland (AKL)
New Zealand is the most isolated temperate landmass in the world — its closest neighbor, Australia, is located more than 2,500 miles away. So, it’s no surprise to see this remote locale on the list of the world’s longest flights. Air New Zealand launched its ultra-long-haul service between Auckland and New York City in 2022. The route (which is now also flown by Australian carrier Qantas) covers a distance of 8,829 miles and is typically scheduled for 17 hours and 30 minutes when flying westbound.
6. Perth (PER) – Paris (CDG)
Another remote locale appears at No. 6 on the list of longest flights in the world. Perth is one of the most isolated cities on the planet; the closest major city, Adelaide, is a three-hour flight away. Starting in July 2024 (just in time for the Summer Olympics), Qantas will fly direct from Perth to Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport. The flight will take about 17 hours and 20 minutes and cover a distance of 8,864 miles.
5. Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Melbourne (MEL)
Sensing a theme? Journeying to the land Down Under will definitely take you a while. Qantas flies direct from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Texas — one of the world’s busiest airports — to Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city. Passengers can expect a westbound flight time of 17 hours and 35 minutes onboard the state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 aircraft (the same aircraft that operates several other flights on this list). The total distance? 8,990 miles.
4. Perth (PER) – London (LHR)
As it turns out, the flight from Perth to Paris isn’t even the longest route offered from Australia’s westernmost city (which is actually closer to Indonesia than it is to Melbourne or Sydney). Qantas stretches the legs of its Boeing 787-9 with daily flights to London’s Heathrow Airport — a distance of 9,009 miles and a flight time of 17 hours and 45 minutes.
3. Auckland (AKL) – Doha (DOH)
Another flight from New Zealand lands in the No. 3 spot on the list of the world’s longest flights. When Qatar Airways launched nonstop service from Doha, Qatar, to Auckland in 2017, it was the world’s longest flight at the time. The flight covered a distance of 9,026 miles and took nearly 17.5 hours to operate. The airline paused service during the pandemic, but it relaunched the route in late 2023.
2. Newark (EWR) – Singapore (SIN)
In 2018, Singapore Airlines took over the crown for the world’s longest flight with its nonstop service between Singapore and Newark, New Jersey (near New York City). However, this isn’t the first time Singapore Airlines has flown this 19-hour flight, which covers a distance of 9,525 miles. The airline originally operated the route from 2004 to 2013 on its Airbus A340-500 aircraft, which has since been retired. These days, passengers will make the incredibly long journey on the cutting-edge Airbus A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range) aircraft.
1. New York (JFK) – Singapore (SIN)
The world’s longest flight is also flown by Singapore Airlines, and it’s just 2 miles longer than Newark-to-Singapore. In 2021, Singapore Airlines launched direct flights to New York’s JFK Airport. The service takes a whopping 19 hours, but fortunately, none of the passengers will be stuck in coach — Singapore Airlines configures the A350-900ULR with only Business Class and Premium Economy seats (offering wider seats with more legroom).
However, Singapore Airlines may not hold onto the No. 1 spot for long. Australian carrier Qantas is set to break the longest flight record with its “Project Sunrise” service. It aims to connect Sydney with both London and New York, with flight times each in excess of 20 hours. However, aircraft delivery delays have pushed back the launch date, and the service is now expected to take off in mid-2026.
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