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Top 10 Longest Nonstop Flights in the World

By Dhiraj Sharma · Published October 30, 2026 · Updated November 2, 2026

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Infographic of the longest nonstop flights in the world, showing an unmarked airliner above the clouds at dusk with a route arc over a globe, with callouts for New York to Singapore, London to Perth, Auckland to Dubai, Shenzhen to Mexico City and Project

The longest nonstop flights in the world, as of October 2026, run from about 13,800 km to over 15,300 km, led by Singapore Airlines' New York services.

This Finepedia guide, written in October 2026, ranks the ten longest scheduled passenger routes that are flown without a stop in at least one direction. Each entry gives the straight-line distance over the globe from one airport to the other, the airline, the aircraft and roughly how long you spend in your seat. For more travel ideas, see the Finepedia guides Top 10 Most Dangerous Airports in the World and Top 10 Things to Do on a Long-Haul Flight.

How We Chose These

Routes are ranked by great-circle distance, the shortest path over the Earth's surface between the two airports, using timetables for mid-October 2026. Real flight paths are often longer because of winds and closed airspace, so flight times do not always follow distance.^[1] Where two airlines fly the same pair, it appears once. Qantas or Singapore Airlines fly seven of the ten.^[2]

The 10 Longest Nonstop Flights at a Glance

No.	Route	Airline	Distance	Scheduled time
1	New York JFK and Singapore	Singapore Airlines	about 15,350 km	about 19 h 15 min
2	Newark and Singapore	Singapore Airlines	about 15,345 km	about 19 h 30 min
3	London Heathrow and Perth	Qantas	about 14,500 km	about 16 h 50 min, London to Perth
4	Dallas/Fort Worth and Melbourne	Qantas	about 14,470 km	about 17 h 40 min
5	New York JFK and Auckland	Air New Zealand, Qantas	about 14,210 km	about 17 h 50 min
6	Auckland and Dubai	Emirates	about 14,200 km	about 17 h 25 min
7	Shenzhen and Mexico City	China Southern	about 14,150 km	about 16 h 15 min
8	Los Angeles and Singapore	Singapore Airlines	about 14,110 km	about 17 h 10 min
9	Houston and Sydney	United Airlines	about 13,830 km	about 17 h 30 min
10	Dallas/Fort Worth and Sydney	Qantas	about 13,800 km	about 17 h

1. New York JFK to Singapore Is the Longest Flight of All

Singapore Airlines' service between New York's JFK airport and Singapore covers about 15,350 km, making it the longest scheduled passenger route on Earth in October 2026. The trip from New York takes about 19 hours 15 minutes, and the airline flies it every day.

Key Facts

Distance: about 15,350 km (9,540 miles)
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR, short for ultra-long range
Seats: 161, all business or premium economy
Started: November 2020

Did You Know?

There is no economy class on this flight. Fewer seats mean less weight, and on a trip this long every extra kilogram costs fuel, so the airline built a small cabin aimed at business travellers. Meals are timed to help passengers adjust to the new time zone, and the cabin lighting changes to match day and night.

2. Newark to Singapore Is Only a Few Kilometres Shorter

Singapore Airlines also flies daily between Newark, New Jersey, and Singapore. At about 15,345 km, the route is only a few kilometres shorter than the JFK flight, and scheduled times can make it the longer trip in some weeks.

Key Facts

Distance: about 15,345 km
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900ULR
First nonstop service: 2004 to 2013, with four-engine A340-500 jets
Relaunched: October 2018

Why It Matters

Newark was where Singapore Airlines first proved that a nonstop link between Asia and the New York area could work. The original service ended in 2013 because fuel-hungry four-engine jets made it too costly, and modern twin-engine aircraft brought it back.

3. London to Perth Links Europe and Australia Directly

Qantas began flying nonstop between Perth and London Heathrow in March 2018, the first regular nonstop passenger link between Australia and Europe.^[3] The route covers about 14,500 km. In October 2026 only the London to Perth direction flies nonstop, taking about 16 hours 50 minutes.

Key Facts

Distance: about 14,500 km
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
Nonstop since: March 2018
Westbound: stops in Singapore until at least 31 January 2027

Did You Know?

From March 2026, closed airspace in the Middle East forced Qantas flights from Perth to London to take a longer path and stop in Singapore for fuel. The stop also lets the airline carry more passengers on each flight.

4. Dallas/Fort Worth to Melbourne Is Qantas's Longest US Route

Qantas links Dallas/Fort Worth in Texas with Melbourne, a trip of about 14,470 km.^[4] Flown three times a week with a Boeing 787-9, it takes about 17 hours 40 minutes. Many passengers connect in Dallas with American Airlines, Qantas's partner in the United States.

Key Facts

Distance: about 14,470 km
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9
Frequency: three flights a week
Scheduled time: about 17 hours 40 minutes

Why It Matters

This route gives travellers from the southern and eastern United States a one-stop trip to Melbourne without going through Los Angeles. It also shows how the efficient 787 made very long, thin routes possible for airlines. Before such jets, routes with only a few hundred passengers a day could not support a nonstop service of this length.

5. New York to Auckland Has Two Airlines Flying It

Air New Zealand started nonstop flights between Auckland and New York JFK in September 2022, and Qantas followed in June 2023.^[5] The route covers about 14,210 km. Flights from New York take about 17 hours 50 minutes, longer than the return, because of the prevailing winds.

Key Facts

Distance: about 14,210 km
Airlines: Air New Zealand and Qantas
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9
Air New Zealand start: September 2022

Did You Know?

The trip crosses the whole Pacific Ocean and the equator, with very few airports along the way where a plane could land in an emergency. Twin-engine jets on such routes must meet strict rules on how far they may fly from a suitable airport, so airlines plan the path with great care.

6. Auckland to Dubai Is the Longest A380 Route

Emirates flies daily between Auckland and Dubai with the Airbus A380 double-decker, covering about 14,200 km in about 17 hours 25 minutes.^[5] It is the longest route in the Emirates network and the longest regular route for any A380.

Key Facts

Distance: about 14,200 km
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
Frequency: daily
Network record: the longest Emirates route

Why It Matters

Very few four-engine aircraft still fly the longest routes, as most airlines have switched to more fuel-efficient twin-engine jets. The A380's large passenger load helps Emirates fill the route by connecting travellers from across Europe, Africa and the Middle East in Dubai.

7. Shenzhen to Mexico City Faces an Altitude Problem

China Southern Airlines flies from Shenzhen in southern China to Mexico City, about 14,150 km, in roughly 16 hours 15 minutes. It is one of the longest links between Asia and Latin America and is flown with an Airbus A350-900.

Key Facts

Distance: about 14,150 km
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
Nonstop direction: Shenzhen to Mexico City
Return: stops in Tijuana for fuel

Did You Know?

Mexico City's airport lies about 2,230 m above sea level. The thin air there reduces engine power and wing lift, so a fully loaded plane cannot carry enough fuel for the trip back to China, and the return flight stops in Tijuana.

8. Los Angeles to Singapore Returned in 2018

Singapore Airlines flies daily between Los Angeles and Singapore, about 14,110 km, in about 17 hours 10 minutes. The airline first ran the route nonstop in 2004 with all-business-class A340-500 jets, ended it in 2013 and brought it back in 2018.

Key Facts

Distance: about 14,110 km
Aircraft: Airbus A350-900
First nonstop: 2004
Relaunched: 2018

Why It Matters

Together with the two New York flights, this route makes Singapore Airlines the biggest ultra-long-haul operator. Singapore's role as a hub means many passengers continue on to India, South-East Asia and Australia. Changi Airport, one of the world's best-known airports, makes those connections quick and comfortable.

9. Houston to Sydney Is United's Longest Flight

United Airlines links Houston in Texas with Sydney, about 13,830 km, using the Boeing 787-9. The route is seasonal and flies during the southern summer, with daily flights returning on 24 October 2026. The flight from Houston takes about 17 hours 30 minutes.

Key Facts

Distance: about 13,830 km
Aircraft: Boeing 787-9
Season: returns on 24 October 2026
Scheduled time: about 17 hours 30 minutes

Did You Know?

When United launched the route in January 2018, it became the airline's longest flight. Houston is one of United's main hubs, so passengers from across the Americas can connect there for the long trip to Australia.

10. Dallas/Fort Worth to Sydney Uses a Superjumbo

Qantas flies daily between Dallas/Fort Worth and Sydney, about 13,800 km, with an Airbus A380.^[4] The trip takes about 17 hours. Until September 2014 the flight from Dallas stopped in Brisbane on the way to Sydney.

Key Facts

Distance: about 13,800 km
Aircraft: Airbus A380-800
Frequency: daily
Nonstop both ways: since September 2014

Why It Matters

With two Texas routes, to Sydney and Melbourne, Qantas has made Dallas/Fort Worth one of its key gateways to North America. The double-decker A380 lets it carry a large number of passengers on a single daily flight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will be the longest flight in the future?

Qantas plans nonstop flights from Sydney to London and New York under a programme called Project Sunrise, using Airbus A350-1000ULR jets with an extra fuel tank. Sydney to London is about 17,000 km. Qantas has said the first London flights should start in October 2027.

Why do some long flights stop in only one direction?

Winds, closed airspace and airport altitude all matter. Flying against strong winds or around closed regions adds distance, and high or hot airports reduce how much fuel a plane can lift, so one direction may need a fuel stop.

Conclusion

The longest nonstop flights link major business cities across oceans and use the most efficient long-range aircraft available. The list changes often, as airspace closures, seasons and new jets add or remove routes. For more travel ideas, read the Finepedia guides Top 10 Most Dangerous Airports in the World and Top 10 Things to Do on a Long-Haul Flight.