✈️ Mile Markers: The Longest Flights for Each Major Commercial Aircraft
Pushing fuel limits, passenger comfort—and airline profitability.
As airlines compete for the world’s most efficient long-haul network, ultra-long-haul flights have become high-stakes plays in global aviation strategy. Whether it’s bragging rights or network optimization, flying longer isn't just about endurance—it's about economics.
Today, we break down the longest scheduled flights for each of the most widely used commercial aircraft—and what they reveal about aircraft capability, airline ambition, and route profitability.
📍 Airbus A350-900ULR
Route: Singapore (SIN) → New York (JFK)
Airline: Singapore Airlines
Distance: ~9,537 miles (15,349 km)
Flight Time: ~18 hours 40 minutes
Why It Matters: This is the world’s longest regularly scheduled commercial flight. Singapore Airlines retrofitted its A350-900ULR aircraft for ultra-long-haul use, removing the economy cabin in favor of premium seats—a nod to the need for high-yield passengers to make the economics work.
🔗 Source: FlightRadar24
📍 Boeing 777-200LR
Route: Dubai (DXB) → Auckland (AKL)
Airline: Emirates (until 2020)
Distance: ~8,824 miles (14,200 km)
Flight Time: ~17 hours 15 minutes
Why It Matters: Though no longer regularly flown post-pandemic, this route showed off the capabilities of Boeing’s ultra-long-range 777 variant. Emirates used it to connect far corners of its global hub-and-spoke network, demonstrating Dubai’s role as a megahub.
🔗 Source: Simple Flying
📍 Boeing 787-9
Route: Perth (PER) → London (LHR)
Airline: Qantas
Distance: ~9,009 miles (14,498 km)
Flight Time: ~17 hours 20 minutes
Why It Matters: The Dreamliner’s efficiency made this historic first nonstop link between Australia and Europe viable. It changed perceptions of what long-haul could look like and is seen as a precursor to Qantas’ Project Sunrise (more on that below).
🔗 Source: Qantas
📍 Airbus A380
Route: Dubai (DXB) → Auckland (AKL)
Airline: Emirates
Distance: ~8,824 miles (14,200 km)
Flight Time: ~17 hours 10 minutes
Why It Matters: Though the A380 isn’t typically used for range, Emirates used it on this ultra-long-haul before the pandemic. The sheer volume of passengers helped it make financial sense.
🔗 Source: Simple Flying
📍 Boeing 747-8i
Route: Seoul-Incheon (ICN) → Atlanta (ATL)
Airline: Korean
Distance: ~7,172 miles (11,542 km)
Flight Time: ~13 hours 45 minutes
Why It Matters: Korean Air is among the last airlines still flying the iconic Boeing 747, but it's scheduled to pull the jet from a particularly long US route in 2025.
📍 Coming Soon: Project Sunrise (Airbus A350-1000ULR)
Route: Sydney (SYD) → London (LHR)
Airline: Qantas (launching 2026)
Distance: ~10,573 miles (17,016 km)
Flight Time: ~19 hours 30 minutes
Why It Matters: If successful, it will become the longest commercial flight ever. The business model? Qantas is betting on ultra-premium seating, strong loyalty from Aussies, and a new class of luxury travel that replaces stopovers with sleep.
🔗 Source: Qantas Project Sunrise
📈 The Business Behind Long-Haul Length
Why do airlines pursue these marathon flights despite higher costs?
Hub Bypass: Cutting out stops reduces complexity and increases appeal to business travelers.
High Yield Customers: Premium cabins can make up 30-40% of a route’s profitability.
Fleet Utilization: Efficient next-gen aircraft like the A350 and 787 unlock new route viability.
Still, not every ultra-long-haul pays off. Fuel costs, crew fatigue, and soft demand in economy can turn these high-profile routes into financial sinkholes if not managed carefully.
🧭 Bottom Line
Long-haul routes remain one of the most exciting—and risky—battlegrounds in aviation. As aircraft get more efficient and business travelers seek nonstop convenience, don’t be surprised if your next flight takes you halfway around the world...without a layover.