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22 hours with an auxiliary tank

The World’s New Longest Non-Stop Flight Will Take Off in 2026

More than 18 hours in the air - the longest flights in the world are not for people who don't want to or can't sit for long periods of time
More than 18 hours in the air — the longest flights in the world are not for people who don't want to or can't sit for long periods of time Photo: Getty Images

December 11, 2024, 5:54 am | Read time: 4 minutes

The Australian airline Qantas has announced that it will be expanding its route network to include the world’s longest non-stop flights from 2026. The first direct flights will connect Sydney with London and New York and take up to 22 hours in the air. Which routes currently rank at the top of the longest flight connections in the world? TRAVELBOOK provides an overview.

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Long-haul flights may not always be the most pleasant, but they can certainly have their advantages when traveling. You save yourself the hassle of changing planes and waiting for hours at a foreign airport during a stopover, where, in the worst case, you can get lost or spend a lot of money buying food and souvenirs to pass the time. Such flight connections often link two very popular destinations that are separated by a large ocean, such as the Atlantic or Pacific. This is also the case with the world’s longest future flights.

New Longest Flight in the World to Take Off in 2026

The Australian airline Qantas wants to add the world’s longest non-stop flights to its route network from mid-2026. The flights will initially connect the Australian metropolis of Sydney with London and New York in around 22 hours. This will be possible thanks to an additional tank in the Airbus A350-1000 used by Qantas, which first had to be approved by the relevant aviation safety authorities. “Our fleet of specially designed Airbus A350s will overcome the arbitrariness of distance with the ability to travel between Australia and almost any city in the world,” says the Qantas website about the so-called “Project Sunrise“.

According to Qantas, the first aircraft is expected to arrive in mid-2026 and will operate the first flights from Sydney to London and New York. The new non-stop flights will save up to 4 hours of travel time compared to flights with a stopover.

Qantas will carry 238 passengers in four classes (First, Business, Premium Economy, and Economy) with the Airbus A350-1000 in the future, the website continues. “The cabin is specially configured for improved comfort on long flights and includes a comfort zone in the middle and more spacious seats in Premium Economy and Economy cabins,” says Qantas.

This is Currently the Longest Non-Stop Flight in the World

Currently, the longest non-stop scheduled flight operated by Singapore Airlines connects Singapore with New York without a change of planes. The flight, which has been in operation since 2018, currently covers a distance of around 15,300 kilometers and takes around 18.5 hours.

You can currently fly daily with Singapore Airlines in an Airbus A350-900ULR from Singapore directly to JFK Airport in New York. A special feature on the flight: higher ceilings, larger windows, and special lighting designed to provide comfort and reduce jet lag.

The Top 5 Longest Non-Stop Flights in the World by Distance

1. Singapore — New York, 15,349 kilometers
Singapore Airlines, Airbus A350-900ULR, duration: approx. 18 hours and 50 minutes

2. Singapore — Newark (New Jersey), 15,329 kilometers Singapore Airlines, Airbus A350-900ULR, duration: approx. 17 hours and 35 minutes

3. Doha (Qatar) — Auckland (New Zealand), 14,535 kilometers
Qatar Airways, Boeing A350-1000, duration: approx. 17 hours and 35 minutes

4. Perth (Australia) — London, 14,498 kilometers
Qantas, Boeing 787-9, duration: approx. 17 hours and 20 minutes

5. Melbourne (Australia) — Dallas (Texas), 14,468 kilometers
Qantas, Boeing 787-9, duration: approx. 17 hours and 35 minutes

Jet streams, tailwinds, or headwinds, as well as unusual routes, are partly responsible for the fact that supposedly shorter routes require longer flight times and vice versa.

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Profitability Remains Questionable

Non-stop flights are popular with passengers, as they save the inconvenience of changing planes and waiting for the onward flight. From the airline’s point of view, however, the question of profitability arises. On non-stop flights, unlike connections with a stopover, the fuel for the entire flight has to be carried from the start. This increases the total weight of the aircraft during the first half of the flight, which in turn increases kerosene consumption. Furthermore, additional personnel must be on board, as one crew cannot operate the entire flight alone.

This article is a machine translation of the original German version of TRAVELBOOK and has been reviewed for accuracy and quality by a native speaker. For feedback, please contact us at info@petbook.de.

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