Epic Nonstop Flights: 9,537 Miles Await

In the last ten years, we’ve seen a surge in airlines offering awe-inspiring ultra long haul flights. Today, let’s explore these sky-high odysseys, peek at potential groundbreaking flights on the horizon, and discover why they’re now more practical than ever before.

Why Ultra Long Haul Flights Are More Practical Than Ever

Why the sudden hike in ultra long haul flights, you ask? The secret lies in cutting-edge aircraft technology. Over the past few years, trailblazers like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 have risen to fame in long haul fleets for their perks:

• They boast an ultra-long range, effortlessly delivering Val Seny ski resort nonstop flights previously unimagined.
• With fewer seats than their predecessor (rest in peace, Boeing 747), these planes open the door to new markets. After all, filling 250 seats is far easier than cramming 400 souls aboard.
• Their fuel efficiency is impressive, significantly lowering the per-passenger cost compared to earlier models.
• The demand for premium seating has skyrocketed worldwide recently, giving these flights a first-class ticket to viability.

In short, long-range, eco-friendly, smaller aircraft have revolutionized the viability of ultra long haul flights. Routes once dismissed as pipe dreams now make fiscal sense.

The World’s 20 Longest Nonstop Flights as of March 2025

It’s time to revisit the leaderboard of the world’s longest flights and see how the competition stacks up. We’ll focus on direct distance between cities—Russian airspace complexities and temperamental wind conditions notwithstanding.

We’ll spotlight only current and soon-to-inaugurated flights, with all entries surpassing the 8,000-mile mark in nonstop style!

1. Singapore (SIN) to New York (JFK) / Singapore Airlines / 9,537 miles / Airbus A350-900ULR
2. Singapore (SIN) to Newark (EWR) / Singapore Airlines / 9,523 miles / Airbus A350-900ULR
3. Doha (DOH) to Auckland (AKL) / Qatar Airways / 9,032 miles / Airbus A350-1000
4. Perth (PER) to London (LHR) / Qantas / 9,010 miles / Boeing 787-9
5. Melbourne (MEL) to Dallas (DFW) / Qantas / 8,992 miles / Boeing 787-9
6. Perth (PER) to Paris (CDG) / Qantas / 8,863 miles / Boeing 787-9
7. Auckland (AKL) to New York (JFK) / Air New Zealand & Qantas / 8,828 miles / Boeing 787-9
8. Dubai (DXB) to Auckland (AKL) / Emirates / 8,824 miles / Airbus A380
9. Shenzhen (SZX) to Mexico City (MEX) / China Southern / Airbus A350-900 / 8,791 miles
10. Singapore (SIN) to Los Angeles (LAX) / Singapore Airlines / 8,770 miles / Airbus A350-900
11. Bangalore (BLR) to San Francisco (SFO) / Air India / 8,701 miles / Boeing 777-200LR
12. Houston (IAH) to Sydney (SYD) / United Airlines / 8,596 miles / Boeing 787-9
13. Sydney (SYD) to Dallas (DFW) / Qantas / 8,578 miles / Boeing 787-9
14. Manila (MNL) to New York (JFK) / Philippine Airlines / 8,520 miles / Airbus A350-900
15. Singapore (SIN) to San Francisco (SFO) / Singapore Airlines & United Airlines / 8,446 miles / Airbus A350-900 & Boeing 787-9
16. Atlanta (ATL) to Johannesburg (JNB) / Delta / 8,439 miles / Airbus A350-900
17. Mumbai (BOM) to San Francisco (SFO) / Air India / 8,406 miles / Boeing 777-200LR
18. Dubai (DXB) to Los Angeles (LAX) / Emirates / 8,339 miles / Airbus A380
19. Jeddah (JED) to Los Angeles (LAX) / Saudia / 8,332 miles / Boeing 777-300ER
20. Doha (DOH) to Los Angeles (LAX) / Qatar Airways / 8,306 miles / Airbus A350-1000

Flight times are a moving target, given winds and airline schedule padding, but expect durations between 15 hours 5 minutes and 18 hours 50 minutes.

One caveat: the Shenzhen to Mexico City partnership involves eastbound nonstop flights only. Heading west, a fuel-pit stop in Tijuana is par for the course.

What Record-Breaking Flights Are on the Horizon?

Considering many long-distance flights are relative newcomers, the horizon is ripe for innovation. Qantas, the daring chap of the skies, continues to dream big!

Under its ambitious “Project Sunrise,” Qantas plans audacious nonstop flights from Melbourne and Sydney to London and New York by 2027 using enhanced Airbus A350-1000s. These will eclipse all existing routes by a grand margin.

Beyond that, pre-pandemic plans hinted at a nearly 9,000-mile Brisbane to Chicago route—presumably another Pilates-class stamina test.

Bottom Line

The avalanche of new ultra long haul routes is thanks to the stellar Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. These modern marvels are small, long-legged, and a dream for fuel efficiency.

However, while premium cabin enthusiasts rejoice, the thought of braving such a journey in the economy makes one ponder breaking up the trip. Even business class might have its limits.

Which ultra long haul flight intrigues you most, and which route could be the next legend?