Over time, commercial airlines have established a number of scheduled ultra long-haul non-stop flights. These exceptionally long routes reduce the travel time between distant city pairs as well as the number of stops needed for passengers' travels, thereby increasing passenger convenience.[1] For an airline, choosing to operate long flights can also build brand image as well as loyalty among a set of flyers.[2] Thus there is competition among airlines to establish the longest flight.[3] Show
Definition[edit]The length of a flight can be defined in different ways. Typically, the great-circle distance between the origin and destination is used, but alternative metrics include the duration of the flight, and the actual distance flown (when a longer route can use the jet stream to reduce the total travel time). Also, although the term is most commonly used to compare between different non-stop flights, direct flights with stops (same flight number used for full journey) might also be compared on some occasions. There are numerous different types of flights globally operated by different aircraft for different industries and purposes. The term "longest flight" is most commonly used in reference to flights that are commercial, passenger, and scheduled, such that the flight details are published and tickets are available for purchase.[4] Current longest route[edit]The "world's longest flight" has disputed status because it is a non-specific claim. While the distance between two cities is constant, aircraft don't always follow straight paths but adjust their flight paths based on headwinds, tailwinds, and other weather events and to avoid flying over certain countries because of politics or war.[5] By great-circle distance[edit]Since November 9, 2020, the longest active scheduled passenger flight by great-circle distance is Singapore Airlines’ Flights SQ23/SQ24[6] using an Airbus A350-900ULR between Singapore and New York–JFK at 15,349 kilometres (9,537 mi; 8,288 nmi).[7] The longest ever scheduled passenger flight was Air Tahiti Nui's flight TN64 using a Boeing 787-9, flying non-stop from Faa'a International Airport in Papeete, Tahiti to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport,[8] a distance of 15,715 kilometres (9,765 mi; 8,485 nmi) in a schedule duration of 16 hours, 20 minutes.[9] This route was operated from March to April 2020. This route was previously operated with a refuelling stop at Los Angeles International Airport, where all passengers would disembark the aircraft and pass through U.S. Customs and Border Protection before reboarding and continuing to Paris. However, to comply with COVID-19 pandemic restrictions banning European travelers from entering the United States,[10] this service opted not to stop at Los Angeles during its flights in March–April 2020. The route was also made possible by the aircraft's reduced passenger load of about 150 passengers,[11] which eliminated the need to refuel. This route also set a record for the world's longest domestic passenger flight, as it flew between French territories.  An illustration of the great-circle route versus an optimized jetstream route between Los Angeles and Tokyo. Note the eastbound (to Los Angeles) route, opting to take a longer route (by ground distance) that uses the jetstream to save time and fuel. By ground distance traveled[edit]Routings may avoid great-circle routes, despite their shorter ground distance, in order to avoid headwinds and/or use tailwinds to save time and fuel, shortening the equivalent still-air distance. Since November 9, 2020, the two longest flights (measured by ground distance traveled) are Singapore Airlines' flights SQ23 (second longest) and SQ24 (longest) between Singapore-Changi and New York–JFK in the U.S. Both of these flights have a geometrically optimal great-circle route near the North Pole of approximately 15,350 km (9,540 mi; 8,290 nmi). However, SQ24 to New York is typically flown a ground distance of around 17,250 km (10,720 mi; 9,310 nmi)[12] over the Pacific Ocean where jet streams can assist; while SQ23 back to Singapore sometimes opts, instead of the westward polar route, to fly a ground distance of 16,500 km (10,300 mi; 8,900 nmi)[13] eastward, across the Atlantic Ocean, when favorable jet streams winds are available to save both flying time and fuel. Similarly, the two Air India flights from New Delhi to San Francisco, AI173[14] and AI183,[15] fly an eastward ground distance of about 15,110 km (9,390 mi; 8,160 nmi) over the Pacific Ocean instead of a shorter westward great-circle route of about 13,300 km (8,300 mi; 7,200 nmi) over the Atlantic Ocean, to avoid prevailing westerly headwinds and save almost two hours of flying time.[16] Both these flights can travel with some variation in ground distance, with a report of 15,300 km (9,500 mi; 8,300 nmi) for the first such flight in 2016,[17] and it is not unheard of for particular flights to cover more than 16,000 km (9,900 mi; 8,600 nmi).[18] Cathay Pacific flights from Hong Kong to New York–JFK will also sometimes fly 15,000 km (9,300 mi; 8,100 nmi) ground routes, instead of a 12,984 km (8,068 mi; 7,011 nmi) great-circle route, for the same reason.[19] History[edit]The Pan Am Martin M-130 'Hawaii Clipper' that flew the first commercial transpacific flight Since the first scheduled commercial passenger flight in 1914 that covered 34 kilometres (21 mi; 18 nmi),[20] records for the longest flight (by great-circle distance) were rapidly set and continue to be set today. 1930s[edit]The longest non-stop commercial flights of the 1930s were operated by flying boats which were the predominant aircraft type of the time for long-range flight, in part as they didn't require large airports capable of receiving large aircraft.[21]
1940s and 1950s[edit]PBY Catalina G-AGKS of the Double Sunrise service
1960s and 1970s[edit]An El Al Boeing 707 (4X-ATB) that flew the longest flight in 1961 between New York City and Tel Aviv
A Pan Am 747SP that operated the longest flight in 1976 between New York City and Tokyo
1980s and 1990s[edit]
South African Airways' first 747-400, that launched the longest non-stop flight in 1991 from New York City to Johannesburg
2000s[edit]
2010s and 2020s[edit]A Singapore Airlines A350-900ULR: one of only seven in the world. This plane is used on the currently-active, longest commercial flight from Singapore to New York JFK In the late 2000s/early 2010s, rising fuel prices coupled with the Great Recession caused the cancellation of many ultra long-haul, non-stop flights.[77] This included the services provided by Singapore Airlines from Singapore to both Newark and Los Angeles that were ended in late 2013.[78][79] But, as fuel prices have since decreased and more fuel-efficient aircraft have come into service, many ultra long-haul routes were reinstated or newly-scheduled.[77]
Other record flights (non-scheduled)[edit]Boeing 777-200LR (N6066Z) flew a demonstration flight from Hong Kong to London non-stop in 2005 in an unusual east-bound route, setting a new world record at the time for a commercial airliner at 21,602 kilometers covered in 22 hours 42 minutes.[87] Promotional and delivery flights[edit]A number of promotional or delivery flights have extended the record of longest non-stop flights by a commercial aircraft:
Non-scheduled commercial flights[edit]
Future routes[edit]Scheduled services[edit]New and soon to be launched non-stop flights with distances exceeding 12,776 kilometres (7,939 mi; 6,898 nmi), placing them on the top 30 list, have been announced:
Envisioned services[edit]
Services that never began[edit]In August 2015, Emirates announced that non-stop flights between Dubai and Panama City, Panama would begin on 1 February 2016, covering 13,821 km (8,588 mi; 7,463 nmi)[138] in 17 hours, 35 minutes westbound. In January 2016, the start was postponed to 31 March 2016. In early March 2016, Emirates postponed the route until the end of 2016 or early 2017 or "as soon as conditions allow." Emirates latest public update on this route was in April 2018 where Emirates' CCO stated "We are still looking at Panama. We had some conversations recently with a delegation from Panama".[139] In 2015, it would have been the world's longest non-stop flight. In July 2019, Qantas announced and began selling tickets for new non-stop flights between Brisbane and Chicago-O'Hare that would begin operation in April 2020 covering 14,325 km (8,901 mi; 7,735 nmi) in 16 hours, 20 minutes eastbound using a Boeing 787-9 aircraft. (Flight number QF 85 and 86 in reference to the Chicago Bears 1986 Super Bowl Championship team).[140][141] However, in March 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic Qantas announced it was delaying the route's launch to September 2020. In July 2020, as part of Australia's pandemic response, almost all international flights were canceled until March 2021, including this new route.[142] In January 2021, Qantas reopened its international flights for booking for 2021 and this new route was no longer included in their schedules for the foreseeable future/the rest of 2021. It would have been the world's fourth longest non-stop flight. Airliners[edit]The longest-range Airbus jetliner in service is the Airbus A350-900ULR, which is capable of flying 18,000 kilometres (11,000 mi; 9,700 nmi).[143][144] The A380 is capable of flying 15,200 kilometres (9,400 mi; 8,200 nmi) with 544 passengers. The standard A350-900 can fly 15,000 kilometres (9,300 mi; 8,100 nmi) with 325 passengers. The longest-range Boeing airliner in service is the 777-200LR, which can cover 17,205 kilometres (10,691 mi; 9,290 nmi) with 314 passengers.[145] The announced Boeing 777-8 will be capable of flying 16,170 kilometres (10,050 mi; 8,730 nmi) with 350 to 375 passengers.[146] The Boeing 787-9 can fly 14,140 km (7,635 nmi) with 290 passengers.[147] Many long-haul, non-stop routes that used to be uneconomical to operate are being made viable by the Airbus A330neo, the Airbus A350 XWB, and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.[148] Longest passenger flights[edit]Non-stop flights (top 30, by great-circle distance)[edit]The following table lists the world's longest non-stop scheduled passenger routes by great-circle distance. The actual distance flown, however, can be longer than the great-circle distance for a variety of reasons, such as avoiding severe weather, taking advantage of favorable winds aloft, detouring around closed airspace, and diverting around war zones. For the purposes of this table, multiple flights operated by the same airline between the same airports are counted as one flight, while different airlines operating between the same airports are counted separately. Also, each airport pair is counted separately, even though some cities have multiple airports supporting long-range flights (e.g. Heathrow and Gatwick airports serving London, and Haneda and Narita serving Tokyo). The table rows shaded in gray denote flights that are scheduled, but currently unticketable during a pause in operations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Direct flights with stops[edit]An illustration of a San Francisco to Singapore "non-stop" flight (green) versus a "direct" flight (purple) A direct flight between an origin and final destination has an intermediate stop, with all segments having the same flight number and using the same aircraft.[192] In the following table, the "Origin – Destination" column lists the great-circle distance between the origin and final destination, excluding the stop. The "All Sectors" column lists the total great-circle distance from the origin to the stop to the final destination.
Discontinued non-stop flights[edit]
Longest passenger flights (by aircraft type)[edit]The sections below gives two separate views. The first one lists all the commercial passenger aircraft types and their currently scheduled and operating longest non-stop flight. The second section lists the longest non-stop flight ever regularly scheduled and operated by that commercial passenger aircraft type. Current[edit]The table below lists the current longest (by great-circle distance) non-stop flights operated by different types of aircraft.
Records[edit]The table below lists the longest (by great-circle distance) regularly scheduled non-stop revenue flights ever operated by different types of aircraft. The table does not include special promotional or delivery flights, such as shown above.
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
References[edit]
|
Longest flight in the world by time
Related Posts
Copyright © 2024 SignalDuo Inc.
