The Longest Flight in the World: Longer Than All of 'Severance'

Oh, kiddo ... it gets worse. Catherine Falls Commercial / Getty Images

Think your cross-country flight is long? Imagine being airborne for over 18 hours.

The longest flight in the world isn't just an endurance test for the aircraft; it's also a test of your patience, your tv/movie queue and definitely your seat cushion. Thanks to modern aviation marvels like the Airbus A350-900ULR and Boeing 777-200LR, airlines can now connect cities that used to feel worlds apart.

The longest nonstop flights are like a real-life version of "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?"—complete with ambient lighting, business class pods and hopefully smoother skies. Let’s dive into the crown jewels of long haul flights, starting with the reigning champ.

Contents

Singapore Airlines Flight SQ23: Singapore to New York JFK
Air India Flight AI173: Bengaluru to San Francisco
Qantas Flight QF9: Perth to London Heathrow
Air New Zealand Flight NZ1: Auckland to New York JFK
Emirates Flight EK215: Dubai to Los Angeles
United Airlines Flight UA101: Houston to Sydney
Air France Flight AF65: Los Angeles to Paris Charles de Gaulle
American Airlines Flight AA106: New York JFK to London Heathrow
Qantas Plans for Project Sunrise: Sydney to New York

1. Singapore Airlines Flight SQ23: Singapore to New York JFK

Singapore Airlines holds the title for the world's longest flight, connecting Singapore Changi Airport to New York JFK. Clocking a distance of around 9,537 miles (15,348 kilometers), this nonstop flight lasts nearly 19 hours aboard the Airbus A350-900ULR, an aircraft type tailor-made for ultra-long journeys.

2. Air India Flight AI173: Bengaluru to San Francisco

Taking a direct flight over the North Pole to avoid Russian airspace, Air India's Bengaluru to San Francisco route ranks among the longest by great circle distance. This 15.5-hour flight showcases how geopolitical events can shift aviation paths.

Trust us, the business class cocoon here is something you won't want to leave.

3. Qantas Flight QF9: Perth to London Heathrow

A historical game-changer for aviation buffs, Qantas’s direct flight from Perth Airport to London Heathrow marked the first nonstop commercial flight linking Australia to Europe.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner makes the roughly 9,010-mile (14,500-kilometer) trip in about 16 hours and 45 minutes. It also paved the way for the upcoming Project Sunrise.

4. Qatar Airways Flight QR921: Auckland to Doha

Qatar Airways offers a long-haul adventure from the Southern Hemisphere to the Middle East, covering 9,032 miles (14,535 kilometers). At 17 hours and 15 minutes of scheduled flight time, it crosses multiple climate zones and the equator, basically making it a weather tour — hello, jet lag!

5. Air New Zealand Flight NZ1: Auckland to New York JFK

One of the newer contenders in ultra-long-haul flights, Air New Zealand connects Auckland to New York JFK on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. This flight covers approximately 8,815 miles (14,185 kilometers), and premium economy passengers absolutely rave about the extra legroom.

6. Emirates Flight EK215: Dubai to Los Angeles

Operated by the impressive Airbus A380 — yes, the double-decker giant with first-class showers — this Dubai to Los Angeles route spans 8,339 miles (13,420 kilometers) with a scheduled flight time of around 16.5 hours.

Prepare yourself: Departing from Los Angeles International Airport means plenty of time in the sky.

7. United Airlines Flight UA101: Houston to Sydney

Linking the Southern U.S. to Australia, United Airlines operates this roughly 17.5-hour flight using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. United is just one of several carriers continually pushing the boundaries of long haul travel — plus, they serve some surprisingly good coffee, thanks to their Illy partnership.

8. Air France Flight AF65: Los Angeles to Paris Charles de Gaulle

At around 10.5 hours, this flight from Los Angeles to Paris Charles de Gaulle isn't the absolute longest, but crossing 5,629 miles (9,112 kilometers) of the Atlantic Ocean still qualifies it as a notable long-haul. We'd argue that flying business class here is more survival than style.

9. American Airlines Flight AA106: New York JFK to London Heathrow

Though shorter at just about 7 hours, this busy international route covers approximately 3,451 miles (5,555 kilometers). Consider this flight a power nap with ambient lighting — a quick hop over the pond with plenty of traffic.

Qantas Plans for Project Sunrise: Sydney to New York

Here's something to get excited about: Qantas announced ambitious plans for Project Sunrise — a nonstop route connecting Sydney directly to New York. If it launches as planned in 2027, the flight will stretch up to 19 hours, making it the new world's longest flight.

The aircraft of choice? The innovative Airbus A350-1000, featuring dedicated zones for stretching and exercise.