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The 2019 List Of The Longest Flights In The World

This article is more than 5 years old.

Although 2018 has drawn to a close and we begin to look forward to the excitement of 2019, last year was one of the most dramatic in recent memory for the aviation industry. Airlines from around the world introduced new routes that pushed the possibilities of next-generation aircraft and connected more people than ever before across greater and greater distances.

The year marked the dawn of the super-haul flight, with non-stop routes between the U.S. and Asia, and Europe and Australia, among other milestones. Singapore Airlines took the prize of world’s longest flight when it relaunched its route between its hub at Singapore Changi International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport in October.

Singapore Airlines

That flight tops out at nearly 19 hours in the direction from the U.S. to Singapore, and covers a distance of over 9,500 miles. For its part, Qantas began the first regularly scheduled commercial non-stop flights between Australia and Europe with the debut of its service between Perth and London Heathrow in March. That route squeaks in at just over 9,000 miles and over 17 hours. You might also have missed Philippine Airlines quietly beginning non-stop service between Manila and New York JFK, also in October, with a flight that instantly became the eighth-longest in the world.

Many of these new routes have recently become possible thanks to the advent of the next-generation of fuel-efficient aircraft. Jets like the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the Airbus A350 can not only cover longer distances than their antecedents, but they also field an array of jetlag-fighting features such as higher cabin pressurization and humidity so that passengers can weather such long flights in better spirits and better health.

Singapore Airlines even ordered some of their A350s, including the ones flown between Singapore and Newark, to be ultra-long-range variants, and only installed business class and premium economy aboard so that passengers would not have to endure an 18+-hour flight in regular coach. The airline also introduced new health-focused offerings in partnership with wellness brand Canyon Ranch. Likewise, Qantas enlisted the help of scientists at the University of Sydney’s Charles Perkins Institute. Thanks to their input, the airline implemented healthy menus, customized cabin lighting sequences and created lounge amenities specially tailored to help travelers combat and control jetlag before, during and after its longest-haul flights, including the new ones between Perth and London.

Qantas

In short, 2018 heralded the beginning of a new era of jet travel that will include longer flights on newer planes, and a renewed focus on passenger comfort and health, even as travel times increase.

Now that all these new flights have gone into regular service, here is an updated list of the longest flights in the world by distance. All distances noted were verified using GCMap.com and travel times are for the longer leg and current as of January 2019.

The 10 Longest Flights in the World in 2019

1. Singapore Airlines: Singapore – Newark

Distance: 9,534 miles

Flight time: 18 hours, 30 minutes

Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR

2. Qatar Airways: Auckland – Doha

Distance: 9,032 miles

Flight time: 17 hours, 50 minutes

Aircraft: Boeing 777-200LR

3. Qantas: Perth – London

Distance: 9,009 miles

Flight time: 17 hours, 25 minutes

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9

4. Emirates: Dubai – Auckland

Distance: 8,824

Flight time: 17 hours, 10 minutes

Aircraft: Airbus A380

5. Singapore Airlines: Singapore – Los Angeles

Distance: 8,770 miles

Flight time: 17 hours, 50 minutes

Aircraft: Airbus A350-900/A350-900ULR

6. United: Houston – Sydney

Distance: 8,596 miles

Flight time: 17 hours, 30 minutes

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9

7. Qantas: Dallas Ft. Worth – Sydney

Distance: 8,578 miles

Flight time: 17 hours, 10 minutes

Aircraft: Airbus A380

8. Philippine Airlines: Manila – New York JFK

Distance: 8,520 miles

Flight time: 16 hours, 35 minutes

Aircraft: Airbus A350

9. United and Singapore Airlines: San Francisco – Singapore

Distance: 8,447 miles

Flight time: 17 hours, 20 minutes (United), 17 hours, 35 minutes (Singapore Airlines)

Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 (United), Airbus A350-900/A350-900ULR (Singapore Airlines)

10. Delta: Johannesburg – Atlanta

Distance: 8,439 miles

Flight time: 16 hours, 50 minutes

Aircraft: Boeing 777-200LR

These are the current rankings of the world’s longest flights, but as more next-generation jets are developed and come into service, expect airlines to push the limits of air travel even further and to introduce further super-haul flights that might top out at well over 10,000 miles and 20 hours.

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