Think-Dash: These Are the 12 Longest Flights in the World. How Many Do You Know?

I was having a (good natured) argument a couple of weeks ago with someone who claimed that Delta has the longest flight in the world, Atlanta – Johannesburg.

That didn’t seem right to me and I was sure it was false, but that led me to put together my own list of world’s longest flights to see just where that one stood. It comes close.

Singapore Airlines used to operate the two longest flights in the world — Newark to Singapore non-stop (9534 miles) followed by Los Angeles to Singapore (8770 miles). Both of these were flown with Airbus A340-500 flying gas cans, uneconomic to operate at the current price of jet fuel.

Note. Singapore Airlines business class aboard 777-300 not Airbus A350

Thai Airways briefly operated the third longest flight, New York JFK to Bangkok at 8677 miles, and for a longer period operated Los Angeles – Bangkok non-stop (at just 8270 miles). Eventually they too decided to stem the losses incurred by burning so much fuel just to be able to carry enough fuel to make the trip.

I came up with the following flights that are currently scheduled to operate (meaning, it includes flights like Dallas – Abu Dhabi that have not yet commenced service) and are over 8000 miles.

How many did you know about?

Qantas, Sydney – Dallas, 8578 miles
Delta, Atlanta – Johannesburg, 8439 miles
Etihad, Abu Dhabi – Los Angeles, 8390 miles
Emirates, Dubai – Los Angeles, 8339 miles
Saudia, Jeddah – Los Angeles, 8332 miles
Emirates, Dubai – Houston, 8168 miles
American, Dallas – Hong Kong, 8123 miles

American’s new 777-300ER business class flies to Hong Kong
Cathay Pacific, New York JFK – Hong Kong, 8072 miles
Etihad, Abu Dhabi – Dallas, 8071 miles
United, Newark – Hong Kong, 8065 miles
Qatar, Doha – Houston, 8047 miles
Emirates, Dubai – Dallas, 8040 miles

How many of these did you know? How many have you flown?

The list actually brings home to me that I’ve flown very few ‘ultra-long haul’ segments. I’ve flown many many long flights that don’t make this list, like New York and Washington Dulles to Abu Dhabi, and Chicago and Toronto to Hong Kong… as well as many long connecting ‘direct’ flights like San Francisco – Hong Kong – Singapore. But I’ve only taken one of these twelve flights!

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