Singapore Airlines’ ultra-long-haul service between Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport remains the farthest nonstop commercial flight in the world in 2024—a position it has held for the past three years.
The route spans 9,527 mi. (8,279 nm) and averages 18 hr. 40 min., operated with Airbus A350-900 aircraft. It narrowly edges out the second-longest, also operated by Singapore Airlines, connecting SIN to Newark Liberty International Airport—just 2 mi. shorter.
The top three is completed by Qatar Airways’ flights from Doha’s Hamad International Airport to Auckland International Airport, which clocks in at 9,026 mi. (7,843 nm). The airline relaunched the service in September 2023 after a pandemic-related suspension.
While the top three farthest routes remain unchanged from 2023, two new entries have joined the top 10 this year. Qantas’ service between Perth Airport and Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, launched in July, ranks sixth. The 8,864-mi. (7,703-nm) route marks the Oneworld member’s return to the French market after a 20-year absence, with a flight time of about 17 hr. 20 min.
China Southern Airlines’ Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport-Mexico City International Airport route is the other new addition, placing as the ninth farthest scheduled flight globally. Service commenced in April, restoring nonstop connectivity between China and Mexico for the first time in more than four years.
At the other end of the scale, Scottish carrier Loganair’s 1.7-mi. (1.5-nm) domestic flight between Westray and Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands is the shortest scheduled flight in the world in 2024. The journey lasts just 90 sec. and costs as little as £7.50 ($9.40) per leg.
However, for regular international scheduled routes using fixed-wing aircraft types only, the shortest this year connects Anguilla and St Maarten. The route is just 11 mi. (10 nm) long with a flight time of about 10 min.
In second place is the 15-mi. (13-nm) route between Brazzaville, Congo, and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. The service is offered by Air France, ASKY Airlines and Royal Air Maroc using aircraft such as A320, Boeing 737-800, A330-200 and A350-900, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data.
The third-shortest international route spans 19 mi. (17 nm) between Caribbean islands St. Maarten and St. Barthelemy, operated by Saint Barth Commuter and Winair with Cessna 208B Caravan and De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft, respectively.
While nine of the top 10 longest routes in 2024 are operated using A350 or 787 aircraft, Emirates’ Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Auckland International Airport (AKL) service ranks as the longest route flown with an A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft. The 8,819-mi. (7,664-nm) flight has been in operation since March 2016.
Emirates, which has 104 A380s in service, dominates long-haul operations with the aircraft type, accounting for seven of the top 10 farthest A380 routes globally. Completing the top three are the carrier’s flights from DXB to Los Angeles International Airport and DXB to Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
In contrast, Emirates’ route between DXB and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, holds the title of being the shortest regularly operated flight using A380s. Spanning just 542 mi. (471 nm), the airline first deployed the aircraft on the route in April 2019, but suspended the service in March 2020 due to the pandemic. After a four-year hiatus, A380 flights on the sector resumed in April 2024.
South Korea’s Asiana Airlines operates the second- and third-shortest A380 routes globally. The 780-mi. (678-nm) route between Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) and Tokyo Narita International Airport ranks second, followed by the 909-mi. (790-nm) connection between ICN and Taipei Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport.
Related Content
