Non-Stop Flights: The Top 10 Longest Direct Routes
Big news in long-haul aviation — Qantas’s long-awaited Project Sunrise, is getting real. The Aussie flag carrier is full steam ahead with plans to launch direct flights from Sydney and Melbourne to London by 2026. No stopovers. No refuels. Just you, 20-ish hours, and a lot of sky.
To make it happen, Qantas is waiting on 12 custom A350-1000s from Airbus — each fitted with extra fuel tanks and designed to tackle the 11,000+ mile journey. These jets won’t just be long-legged, either. They’ll come with a Wellbeing Zone mid-cabin, so you can stretch, hydrate, and keep your sanity intact on what will be the world’s longest non-stop commercial flight.
Once launched, London–Sydney will become the longest non-stop commercial flight in the world. But while we wait for that record-breaker to take-off, there are already some epic ultra-long-haul flights out there worth talking about.
From New York to Singapore, Auckland to Doha — here’s a look at the 10 longest non-stop flights in the world, mapped and ranked by great circle distance.
10. San Francisco (SFO) – Bengaluru (BLR)
Airline: Air India
Flight numbers: AI175/AI176
Great Circle Distance: 14,004 km (7,562 nm)
Aircraft: Boeing 777-200LR
Average flight time: ~ 17h 22m (westbound), ~ 15h 53m (eastbound)
Air India's nonstop flight connecting San Francisco and Bengaluru holds the tenth place among the world's longest direct routes. This route, AI176 westbound and AI175 eastbound, is not just Air India’s longest — it’s also the longest Boeing 777-200LR flight currently in operation.
As India’s tech capital, Bengaluru is seeing growing demand for direct connections to Silicon Valley — and this route bridges two of the world's biggest innovation hubs without a single stop. AI176 departs San Francisco at 21:00 and glides across the Pacific and parts of the Arctic before arriving in Bengaluru at 03:25, after an average flight time of 17 hours and 22 minutes. The return trip, AI175, is a bit shorter at around 15 hours and 53 minutes, benefiting from favourable winds on the eastbound leg.
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9. Los Angeles (LAX) → Singapore (SIN)
Airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight numbers: SQ35/SQ36 & SQ37/SQ38
Great Circle Distance: 14,114 km (7,621 nm)
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR
Average flight time: ~ 16h 10m (westbound), ~ 15h 08m (eastbound)
Ten times a week Singapore Airlines flies between LA and the affluent Asian city state using an A350-900ULR (Ultra Long Range), a high-end version of the already fuel-efficient A350-900. With a max range of over 20 hours in the air, these jets are basically flying endurance athletes. Also, there’s usually no economy class — just Premium Economy and Business. You’re gonna need the legroom.
SQ35 and SQ37 on the outbound, SQ36 and SQ38 on the way back. These flights span roughly 14,100 km and rank among the world’s longest nonstop routes. SQ35 leaves LAX at 21:20 and typically lands roughly 16 hours later in Singapore, while SQ37 takes off at 23:40 and averages a slightly faster 15h. Westbound flights, SQ36 and SQ38, shave off a couple hours thanks to jet stream winds, with average durations around 15h 08m.
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8. Auckland (AKL) → Dubai (DXB)
Airline: Emirates
Flight numbers: EK448/EK449
Great Circle Distance: 14,200 km (7,667 nm)
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
Average flight time: 16h 41m ~ (westbound), 15h 01m ~ (eastbound)
This one’s a showstopper. Emirates’ EK449 from Auckland to Dubai isn’t just long — it holds the crown as the longest flight operated by an Airbus A380. And let’s be honest, if you have to be in the sky for 16+ hours, there are worse ways than cruising in the A380’s spacious cabin.
EK449 departs Auckland at 20:30 and touches down in Dubai roughly 16h 41m later. The return leg, EK448, is a bit more forgiving thanks to prevailing winds, taking around 15h 01m. That’s still a lot of Netflix time.
What’s remarkable is that Emirates keeps this route operating with the double-decker superjumbo, proving there's still room (and demand) for high-capacity, ultra-long flights. Plus, flying from New Zealand to the Middle East in one shot? It’s a geographical flex.
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7. New York (JFK) → Auckland (AKL)
Airline: Air New Zealand and Qantas
Flight numbers: NZ1/NZ2, QF3/QF4
Great Circle Distance: 14,207 km (7,671 nm)
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Average flight time: ~ 16h and 52m(westbound), ~ 15h 20m (eastbound)
It’s a major milestone for both airlines: for Air New Zealand, it’s the flagship of their long-haul routes, and for Qantas, this marks the another service in their growing Ultra Long Routes portfolio. For passengers? It’s the ultimate test of noise-cancelling headphones and onboard pyjamas.
Air New Zealand’s NZ1 departs JFK at 21:55 and lands in Auckland a jet-lag-busting 16 hours and 52 minutes later — typically mid-morning local time. Not to be outdone, Qantas’ QF3 takes off earlier at 19:30 and touches down around 05:00. Return legs are just a little shorter, thanks to the tailwinds: NZ2 averages 15h 20m, and QF4 clocks 15h 18m.
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6. Perth (PER) → Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
Airline: Qantas Flight numbers: QF33 / QF34 Great Circle Distance: 14,263 km (7,701 nm) Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Average flight time: ~16h 40m (westbound), ~16h 25m (eastbound)
The newest addition to Qantas’ ultra-long-haul lineup is QF33, a non-stop connection from Perth to Paris Charles de Gaulle, launched in July 2024. Stretching 14,263 km, this Dreamliner route complements Qantas’ growing Euro-map, which now includes direct flights to London, Rome, and Paris.
QF33 takes-off from Perth in the evening (19:35) and lands in Paris just before 7 a.m. local time. The return flight, QF34, clocks in slightly quicker and helps round out Qantas’ Euro strategy of linking Western Australia with the heart of Europe.
Flights run three times a week, with January fares around £1,400 return. Budget-conscious flyers can still transit through the Middle East or Asia and shave off about £300, but many will gladly pay a bit more for no layovers.
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5. Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) → Melbourne (MEL)
Airline: Qantas Flight numbers: QF21 / QF22 Great Circle Distance: 14,472 km (7,814 nm) Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Average flight time: ~17h 13m (westbound), ~17h 5m (eastbound)
Landing in fifth place is Qantas’ transpacific mega-route between Texas and Victoria: Dallas to Melbourne. This route gives Australians a direct link to the American South without the need to transit through LA or Sydney.
QF22 departs Dallas at 20:05 and touches down in Melbourne just after 5 a.m., while QF21 handles the return trip across the Pacific with an equally epic flight time. Operated three times weekly since December 2022, this route reflects Qantas’ ambition to dominate ultra-long-haul travel.
From cowboy boots to laneways filled with coffee and art, this flight connects two very different worlds in one sleep-deprived leap.
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4. Perth (PER) → London Heathrow (LHR)
Airline: Qantas Flight numbers: QF9 / QF10 Great Circle Distance: 14,499 km (7,829 nm) Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner Average flight time: ~16h 57m (westbound), ~16h 11m (eastbound)
In 2018, Qantas made aviation history with the launch of QF9, the first-ever regular non-stop flight from Australia to the UK. The route between Perth and London Heathrow covers just under 14,500 km, pushing the range limits of the 787-9 Dreamliner.
QF9 departs Perth at 18:45 and lands in London early the next morning at 05:05, giving passengers the surreal experience of watching the sun rise in a different hemisphere. The return flight, QF10, cut down on time a bit with favourable winds, averaging just over 16 hours.
The route quickly became a favourite for time-conscious travellers, with average load factors above 90% in its first year. It’s one of four Qantas flights in the global top ten.
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3. Auckland (AKL) → Doha (DOH)
Airline: Qatar Airways Flight numbers: QR921 / QR920 Great Circle Distance: 14,535 km (7,848 nm) Aircraft: Airbus A350-1000 (A350-1041) Average flight time: ~16h 34m (eastbound), ~15h 34m (westbound)
Taking the third spot is Qatar Airways’ massive journey from Auckland to Doha, a route that once held the world record for longest flight. Flying 14,535 km across multiple time zones, QR921 and its return leg QR920 are both powered by the A350-1000, the flagship of Qatar’s long-haul fleet.
QR921 leaves Auckland at 15:00 and lands in Doha at 23:15, clocking an average flight time of over 16.5 hours. The return flight departs in the early hours and arrives in Auckland the next night, having spent about 15.5 hours in the sky. Passengers can expect signature Qatar Airways luxury, including the highly rated Qsuite in business class — arguably the best seat in the sky. Bonus: the airline is a partner with British Airways. So if you’re an Avios points collector, you can earn points and status tier credits on these flights too. Not a bad way to knock out 9,000+ miles.
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2. Newark (EWR) → Singapore (SIN)
Airline: Singapore Airlines Flight numbers: SQ21 / SQ22 Great Circle Distance: 15,344 km (8,285 nm) Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR Average flight time: ~17h 58m (westbound), ~18h 45m (eastbound)
Singapore Airlines bags second place with its Newark–Singapore service, a slightly different flavour of the world’s longest route. Since March 2022, SQ21 and SQ22 have operated this epic pairing using the same fuel-efficient A350-900ULR aircraft.
SQ21 departs from Newark at a comfortable 10:00 in the morning, landing in Singapore around 17:10 the next day. This flight also skips economy entirely, offering only premium economy and business class to help passengers endure the near 18-hour haul in style. It’s one of those rare flights where you truly cross the world in a single sitting (or nap, if you’re in business class).
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1. New York (JFK) → Singapore (SIN)
Airline: Singapore Airlines Flight numbers: SQ23 / SQ24 Great Circle Distance: 15,349 km (8,288 nm) Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR Average flight time: ~18h 27m (eastbound), ~18h 10m (westbound)
Singapore Airlines’ SQ23 currently holds the title of the world’s longest commercial flight. Covering a whopping 15,349 km between New York JFK and Singapore, this ultra-long-haul marathon has been flying high since November 2020.
Departing JFK late at night (22:30), it touches down in Singapore around sunrise two days later (05:20). With only 161 seats on board, it’s built for range and fuel efficiency — and frankly, for sanity. Just 67 business class seats and 94 premium economy, making the trip far more bearable than it sounds. Prices often start around £1000 one-way, which actually works out to surprisingly decent value when you break it down by mile or hour.
The Flight That Beat Them All
While Singapore – New York holds the official title for the world’s longest scheduled flight, aviation history hides even more extreme feats. Back in 2005, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flew a Boeing 777 from Hong Kong to London — the long way around, heading east across the Pacific in a bold world record attempt. With just 27 passengers, stripped-down seating, and extra instruments installed onboard, the flight covered a staggering 21,578 km or 13,422 miles in 22 hours and 22 minutes. Though it wasn’t a regularly scheduled service, it still stands as the longest non-stop commercial flight ever completed—a reminder that in aviation, the limits are always being redefined.
