September 23, 2025, 8:40 am | Read time: 6 minutes
China Eastern plans to introduce a direct flight between Shanghai and Buenos Aires this year–at up to 29 hours, it will be the longest direct flight in the world. The Australian airline Qantas has also announced plans to expand its network with the world’s longest nonstop flights starting in 2027. The first direct flights will connect Sydney with London and New York, lasting up to 22 hours. TRAVELBOOK provides an overview of which routes currently rank among the longest flight connections in the world.
Long-haul flights may not always be the most pleasant, but they can have their advantages when traveling. You avoid the hassle of changing planes and long waits at an airport during a layover–where, in the worst case, you might get lost or spend a lot of money on food and souvenirs to pass the time. Such flight routes often connect two very popular destinations separated by a large ocean, such as the Atlantic or Pacific. This is also true for the future longest flights in the world.
Overview
Direct Flight with 29 Hours in the Air Starting December
Starting December 4, 2025, passengers will be able to take the new longest direct flight in the world. Twice a week, China Eastern Airlines will fly approximately 20,000 kilometers from Shanghai to Buenos Aires and back. The airline estimates a flight time of 25.5 hours for this route. The return flight is expected to take 29 hours, as reported by the aviation magazine “Aero.”
The direct flight from China to Argentina is not a nonstop flight. The Boeing 777-300ER makes a technical stop in Auckland, New Zealand, about halfway through. There, the plane is refueled, and the crew is changed. Passengers are allowed to disembark for the approximately two-hour stop.
The new route from Shanghai via Auckland to Buenos Aires is described by China Eastern as “an important element in building a New Silk Road between Asia and South America,” according to Aero. The route runs close to Antarctica, which the airline says saves about four hours of flight time. The plan is to offer flights with 65,000 seats per year.
New Longest Nonstop Flight in the World to Start in 2027
While China Eastern’s Shanghai-Buenos Aires flight is expected to become the longest direct flight in the world, the longest nonstop flight is another matter. Or rather, it will be, once it starts. After several delays, the Australian airline Qantas now plans to include the world’s longest nonstop flights in its network starting in early 2027, as reported by the Australian news.com.au. The flights will initially connect the Australian metropolis of Sydney with London and New York in about 22 hours.
This is made possible by an additional tank in the Airbus A350-1000 used by Qantas, which first had to be approved by the relevant aviation safety authority. “Our fleet of specially designed Airbus A350s will overcome the tyranny of distance, with the ability to travel between Australia and almost any city in the world,” states Qantas on its website about the so-called “Project Sunrise.”
According to Qantas, the first aircraft is expected to arrive in October 2026. The new nonstop flights will save up to four hours of travel time compared to flights with a stopover, according to the airline.
Qantas will transport 238 passengers in four classes (First, Business, Premium Economy, Economy) with the Airbus A350-1000 in the future, the website further states. “The cabin is specially configured for enhanced comfort on long flights and includes a wellness area in the middle and more spacious seating in Premium Economy and Economy cabins,” writes Qantas.
The Current Longest Nonstop Flight in the World
The current longest nonstop scheduled flight by Singapore Airlines connects Singapore with New York without a stopover. Since 2018, the flight has covered a distance of about 15,300 kilometers and lasts approximately 18.5 hours.
Currently, you can fly daily with Singapore Airlines in an Airbus A350-900 directly from Singapore to JFK Airport in New York. A unique feature of the flight: higher ceilings, larger windows, and special lighting are designed to enhance comfort and reduce jet lag.
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The 10 Longest Nonstop Flights in the World by Flight Time*
Until the new longest nonstop flights by Australian Qantas start, the list of the currently longest flights in the world looks like this:
1. Singapore – New York (USA), Duration: 18 hours and 40 minutes
Singapore Airlines, Airbus A350-900, 15,348 kilometers
2. Singapore – Newark (USA), Duration: 18 hours and 25 minutes
Singapore Airlines, Airbus A350-900, 15,345 kilometers
3. Houston (USA) – Sydney (Australia), Duration: 17 hours and 35 minutes
United Airlines, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, 13,833 kilometers
4. Perth (Australia) – London (United Kingdom), Duration: 17 hours and 30 minutes
Qantas, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, 14,498 kilometers
5./6. Doha (Qatar) – Auckland (New Zealand), Duration: 16 hours and 10 minutes
Qatar, Boeing 777-200LR, 14,535 kilometers
5./6. Dubai (UAE) – Auckland (New Zealand), Duration: 16 hours and 10 minutes
Emirates, Airbus A380-800, 14,200 kilometers
7./8. Melbourne (Australia) – Dallas (USA), Duration: 15 hours and 45 minutes
Qantas, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, 14,471 kilometers
7./8. Auckland (New Zealand) – New York (USA), Duration: 15 hours and 45 minutes
Air New Zealand, Boeing 787 Dreamliner, 14,207 kilometers
9. Bangalore (India) – San Francisco (USA), Duration: 15 hours and 35 minutes
Air India, Boeing 777-200LR, 14,015 kilometers
10. Auckland (New Zealand) – New York (USA), Duration: 15 hours and 30 minutes
Qantas, Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, 14,207 kilometers
*Actual flight times may vary from the previous figures. Factors such as tailwinds and headwinds, as well as other factors, can influence flight time. In some cases, flight times on the outbound and return journeys also differ significantly.
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The 10 Longest Nonstop Flights by Distance
Looking at long-haul flights by distance rather than flight time, the list of the longest nonstop flights in the world in 2025 according to Statista is as follows:
- Singapore – New York, 15,348 kilometers
- Singapore – Newark, 15,345 kilometers
- Doha – Auckland, 14,535 kilometers
- Perth – London, 14,498 kilometers
- Melbourne – Dallas, 14,471 kilometers
- Auckland – New York, 14,207 kilometers
- Dubai – Auckland, 14,200 kilometers
- Singapore – Los Angeles, 14,113 kilometers
- Bangalore – San Francisco, 14,015 kilometers
- Houston – Sydney, 13,833 kilometers
Economic Viability Remains Questionable
Nonstop flights are popular with passengers–they save the hassle of changing planes and waiting for the next flight. However, from the airline’s perspective, the question of economic viability arises. On nonstop flights, unlike those with stopovers, fuel for the entire flight must be carried from the start. This increases the total weight of the aircraft during the first half of the flight, which in turn increases fuel consumption. Additionally, extra personnel must be on board, as one crew cannot handle the entire flight alone.