Imagine getting onto a plane and not getting off again for almost 19 hours. Thanks to advancing technologies and ever-more capable airplanes, that’s entirely possible today if you take one of the longest flights in the world.
As more airlines join the realms of ultra-long-haul travel, the list of the world’s longest flights keeps on changing. AeroTime has consulted with data experts at OAG to find out which flights are the longest in 2025, and who’s flying them.
Note: Data includes all flights scheduled as of the end of January 2025. It does not include flights that may be added to the schedules later in the year.
While there’s no huge surprise that Singapore Airlines retains the title of world’s longest flight with its JFK to Singapore service (and second longest with its EWR route), there have been some interesting changes to the list. Two of the routes were added just last year, while others have seen some aircraft changes.
Stay with us as we count down the top 10 longest flights in the world in 2025.
10. Los Angeles to Singapore
Distance: 7,611 nautical miles
Operating airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight time: 17 hours 40 minutes
Aircraft type: Airbus A350
The oldest flight on this list is Singapore Airlines’ connection to Los Angeles. Launched in 2004, the route used its long-range A340-500, and set a record for the longest flight in the world at the time. The LAX-SIN leg, SQ19, took 18 hours 30 minutes, almost an hour longer than the A350 manages today.
The high fuel cost and inefficiency of the A340 saw the route discontinued in 2013. It would be five years before it made a return, this time with the special configuration A350-900ULR, which is much more fuel efficient.
9. Mexico City to Shenzhen
Distance: 7,629 nautical miles
Operating airline: China Southern
Flight time: 16 hours
Aircraft type: Airbus A350
Launched in July 2024, this young route sees China Southern taking a huge trip across the North Pacific to connect Shenzhen with Mexico City. It is the first direct route to Latin America and the longest direct international flight from China. China Southern uses its Airbus A350 for the flight.
Service is sporadic, with outbound flights operating on Tuesdays and Saturdays, while returns come back on Wednesdays and Sundays. The airline says it will make tourism to Latin America much easier, as passengers previously had to make one or even two layovers with a total travel time of up to 40 hours.
8. Auckland to Dubai
Distance: 7,664 nautical miles
Operating airline: Emirates
Flight time: 17 hours 10 minutes
Aircraft type: Airbus A380
One of the older flight routes on this list, Emirates has been connecting Auckland to Dubai nonstop since 2016. It began with a Boeing 777-200LR, before moving to an Airbus A380 service six months later as the demand on the route was so high.
Following the pandemic pause, Emirates reinstated its nonstop A380 service to Auckland in December 2022. In March 2023, New Zealand became the first country to exclusively see the new four-class A380 on all its services, featuring the gorgeous new premium economy cabin.
7. Auckland to New York (JFK)
Distance: 7,672 nautical miles
Operating airline: Air New Zealand/Qantas
Flight time: 15 hours 45 minutes
Aircraft type: Boeing 787
Air New Zealand launched a nonstop flight to New York in September 2022. The airline had some issues with the route, reportedly offloading passengers and luggage in order to make the trip after experiencing stronger than anticipated headwinds.
Following the pandemic pause, Qantas opted to launch a direct service to New York JFK from Auckland in 2023, instead of flying via Los Angeles as it had previously. Originating in Sydney, Qantas has fifth freedom rights to pick up passengers in Auckland before flying to New York.
6. Paris to Perth
Distance: 7,703 nautical miles
Operating airline: Qantas
Flight time: 17 hours 20 minutes
Aircraft type: Boeing 787
One of the newer routes on this list, Qantas launched flights between Paris and Perth in July 2024, aiming to catch some of the traffic for the Paris Olympics. It marked the first time the Flying Kangaroo had been seen in Paris for over two decades.
Services operate three times a week, and while Qantas hasn’t reported on the success yet, the airline noted a trend for passengers desiring direct long-haul flights over connecting services. Despite being the sixth longest route in the world, it’s only the third longest for Qantas.
5. Dallas to Melbourne
Distance: 7,812 nautical miles
Operating airline: Qantas
Flight time: 17 hours 45 minutes
Aircraft type: Boeing 787
Qantas launched the Dallas (DFW) – Melbourne (MEL) direct flight in 2022, using its Boeing 787 Dreamliner to make the trip. As a partner of American Airlines, it made sense to launch this route with easy connections onwards to elsewhere in the US from American’s home in Dallas.
Although the route has been running with the Dreamliner ever since, there’s a change coming in 2025. From August 11, the iconic Airbus A380 will be used by Qantas on the route, operating four times weekly.
4. London (LHR) to Perth
Distance: 7,829 nautical miles
Operating airline: Qantas
Flight time: 16 hours 30 minutes
Aircraft type: Boeing 787
The fourth Qantas route to make the top 10 list is its direct service to London Heathrow (LHR) from Perth in Western Australia. It was the first direct connection between Australia and Europe when it launched in 2018.
Qantas has had some issues with QF9 in recent months. Tensions in the Middle East and unfavorable weather meant the service temporarily had a stopover in Singapore in August 2024. By September, Qantas had resumed its direct connection and continues to operate this flight as its longest service.
3. Auckland to Doha
Distance: 7,843 nautical miles
Operating airline: Qatar Airways
Flight time: 17 hours 20 minutes
Aircraft type: Airbus A350
Following the pandemic, Qatar Airways flew to Auckland via Adelaide using the Boeing 777. But in mid-2023, it restarted its direct flight, using the flagship (but previously subject of a major dispute) Airbus A350 on the route.
It was the longest flight in the world when it launched in 2017, as Singapore Airlines had already closed its Singapore to New York route with the A340-500, as its poor fuel economy made the route uneconomic. It remained the world’s longest flight until SIA launched its service again, this time with the A350, in 2018.
2. New York (EWR) to Singapore
Distance: 8,277 nautical miles
Operating airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight time: 18 hours 40 minutes
Aircraft type: Airbus A350
Singapore Airlines’ pair of flights between New York and Singapore take both first and second place on the list. Newark (EWR) just falls into second, as a route that is a mere two nautical miles shorter. It was the world’s longest flight route from its launch in 2018 until 2020, when Singapore Airlines began flying to JFK.
For both these routes, Singapore Airlines uses the A350-900 in a special configuration to make the huge distance. Known as the ULR, it has raked wingtips and a higher MTOW to allow for more fuel, and is fitted out with premium seats only for enhanced passenger comfort. The entire fleet is slated for a refit, so the best could soon be getting even better.
1. New York (JFK) to Singapore
Distance: 8,279 nautical miles
Operating airline: Singapore Airlines
Flight time: 18 hours 40 minutes
Aircraft type: Airbus A350
Taking the crown, as it has for five years now, is Singapore Airlines’ SQ23/SQ24 flights between New York JFK and Singapore Changi (SIN). Like the EWR route, the A350-900ULR makes this huge flight possible.
Interestingly, Singapore Airlines doesn’t always take the illustrated route between the cities. Going to New York, it often flies over the Pacific where the jetstream can assist. Going back to Singapore, it usually takes the polar route as above, when the jetstream is favorable.
The future longest flights in the world
At present, no airline operates any flight over 9,000 nautical miles long. But one Australian airline is setting out to change that.
Qantas has long been chasing its plans to launch the world’s first nonstop commercial flight from Sydney to London and New York. The route to London Heathrow will be approximately 9,200 nautical miles long, and is hoped to start in 2026.
To realize this ambitious undertaking, Qantas ordered 12 Airbus A350-1000, which will be modified with an additional center fuel tank to give them an extra 1,000 miles in the tank. Known as ‘Project Sunrise,’ these ultra-long-haul flights earned that moniker as passengers will get to experience two sunrises during the flight.
Once these take off, they’ll be the longest flights in the world, bettering Singapore Airlines’ JFK route by a good 1,000 nautical miles. But until they do, Singapore Airlines is set to hold onto both first and second place in the longest flight stakes.
