The world's longest commercial air passenger route is a fascinating topic. Indeed,
many are amazed to see just how far you can push the latest generation of widebody aircraft loaded
with hundreds of passengers - whether or not the experience is enjoyable for passengers!
What is particularly interesting is that the longest route hasn't gotten any
longer in the past 20 years, despite the arrival of even more efficient aircraft!
Maybe it’s due to the simple fact that no one wants to spend such a
long stretch of time on an aircraft? Or maybe it’s because extra fuel is needed
to carry…extra fuel. And so the longer the route, the more inefficient it gets.
But whatever the case may be, this could all be set to change in the coming years as Qantas
looks to launch direct flights between Sydney and London on two opposite sides of the globe.
Let’s look at the evolution of the longest commercial passenger routes with today’s video!
The basis of this video is data that comes from the aviation data experts over at OAG,
who recently stopped to look into the statistical history regarding the world's
longest route since 1997. Over this period of time, just five airlines have held the
title of offering the longest route. Quite interestingly, Southeast Asian Star Alliance
member Singapore Airlines has held the title for 16 of the 27 years recorded!
For over a decade, the world's longest route was a title held by four-engined widebody aircraft.
Initially, South African Airways' route between
New York's JFK and Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo Airport (JNB) was unbeaten. This
intercontinental service clocked in at 6,925 nautical miles (nmi) - 12,825 km.
The South African airline eventually beat its own record in the year 2000. In this year,
the carrier added another 400 or so nautical miles to Atlanta,
forming a route that had a total distance of 7,330nmi - 13,757km.
Unfortunately, SAA's reign wasn't to last. In 2004, Singapore Airlines launched Airbus
A340 flights between New York's Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and
Singapore (SIN). With a total distance of 8,274nmi (15,323 km) as the crow flies,
this distance has only been slightly beaten since - and also by Singapore Airlines!
To accomplish this, the carrier utilized the Airbus A340-500 and its four engines for the
non-stop service. At the time, this was Airbus’ longest-range commercial aircraft variant.
This Singapore-New York offering would last about nine years, as the airline
ended the service in November 2013. According to a FlightGlobal story from the time, the decision
was reached as the airline sold its remaining A340s back to Airbus. However, poor economic
performance is also cited to have influenced the decision. Afterall, if a route was profitable,
the carrier would have probably held on to its long-range A340s and continued operations!
In the next four years, between 2013 and 2017,
three different routes would take the title of the world’s longest route.
With Singapore Airlines out of the picture,
the longest commercial air service dropped by 822nmi - 1522 km.
Thus, Qantas became the new owner of the title, operating its 7,452nmi (13,800 km) route between
Sydney and American Airlines’ hub Dallas Fort Worth. This service was initially operated by
both the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380, though the former was withdrawn from the route before 2015.
The year after, in 2016, Emirates would secure a brief stay on the charts with its
Airbus A380 and Boeing 777 service between its hub at Dubai international airport
(DXB) to Auckland in New Zealand (AKL). This service would clock in at 7,644nmi (14,157km).
The following year Qatar Airways would narrowly beat this record, adding 332 nautical miles with
its Doha to Auckland service.. The total distance of this route would be 7,843nmi - 15,425 km.
Singapore Airlines would retake the title by relaunching a New York to Singapore
service in 2018. More specifically, the airline would operate flights from
Singapore Changi to United’s hub at Newark Liberty International Airport.
The Airbus A350-900 replaced its older sister, the Airbus A340, and an all-business class layout was
replaced with an all-premium configuration. This was - and still is - split business class and
premium economy. The A350s flying this service aren’t just regular A350s, however. Instead,
they are Airbus’ special A350-900ULR, with ULR standing for ultra long range.
Their incredible range is not only achieved by having fewer passengers, but, as Airbus notes,
is made possible with a modified fuel system which can carry an additional 24,000 litres of fuel.
According to Airbus,
“Evolving the ULR from the A350-900 was made possible thanks to extensive
design and upstream industrial studies at Airbus,
avoiding complex modifications. Some of the engineering development, for example,
involved the relocation of sensors in the fuel system – enabling existing tanks to
carry the maximum fuel load for the ULR. This eliminated the need for additional fuel tanks.”
During the pandemic recovery in 2021, Singapore Airlines pushed the boundary by a couple of miles,
launching flights between Newark's neighbor New York JFK, and Singapore.
During the pandemic, this record was topped by a handful of non-stop flights between Papeete in
Tahiti and Paris, France. The longest of these clocked in at 8,709 nautical miles (16,129km).
However, as these flights were one-off services instead of being regularly scheduled,
they were excluded from OAG's data in examining the world’s longest routes.
So what does the future hold for the world’s longest route?
Well, ultra-long-haul travel could be about to change with
the sun about to rise on Qantas' Project Sunrise.
The Australian carrier is looking to reclaim the longest route title with
a truly epic non-stop journey that has only been undertaken a handful of times.
Currently, for Qantas services to reach London, flights either have to start
in Perth, with a distance of 7,829nmi (14,500km) non-stop to London Heathrow,
or fly from Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport with a stop in Singapore for fuel and crew rotation.
From 2025 onwards, the Australian flag carrier is hoping to fly non-stop between Sydney and London
Heathrow. Such a flight would clock in at 9,190 nautical miles (17,020 km) as the crow flies.
To accomplish this feat, Qantas will use specially modified Airbus
A350-1000 aircraft with a lower-density cabin. Most people are anticipating the
aircraft to be modified enough to have a designation such as the Airbus A350-1000ULR.
Considering the mission requirements, we wouldn’t at all be surprised if the
Project Sunrise A350-1000s had the same fuel system modifications as the A350-900ULR.
Historically speaking, the Australian carrier did once complete the a non-stop Sydney
to London flight using a Boeing 747-400 fueled to the brim in 1989. Additionally,
much more recently, research flights for the project sunrise program saw a brand new
Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner carrying just 50 passengers on the route.
What do you make of the development of the world's longest route? What is the maximum
amount of continuous time you would be willing to spend on a non-stop flight?
Let us know what you think and why in the comments down below!