The idea of spending 20 hours on a plane isn’t a dreamy idea, but the fact that the world’s longest flight is set to take off from Sydney in 2027 definitely captured the attention of our city’s travel enthusiasts. Qantas’ ambitious plan to launch a direct 20-hour flight between Sydney and London has quickly become one of our most-read stories of the year. But given how far-flung our island continent is from the rest of the world, many of the longest flights actually already depart from Australia. Let’s take a look at the current top ten.
As of 2025, the world’s longest flight is the 18-hour 50-minute journey between New York City and Singapore. First launched by Singapore Airlines in 2020, this 15,349-kilometre route is operated on an Airbus A350, which features 67 business class seats and just 94 premium economy seats (there are no standard economy seats on board). In that time, you could binge-watch all eight Harry Potter movies and still have one minute to spare. Jeepers!
Singapore Airlines also runs the second-longest flight on Earth, an 18-hour and 45-minute journey spanning 15,344 kilometres from Newark, New Jersey to Singapore. If we’re measuring by distance, Qatar Airways’ Doha to Auckland route is the next longest, covering 14,535 kilometres in roughly 17 hours and 35 minutes. But if we’re going off estimated flight duration, Qantas’ Perth to London route takes the bronze, with the 14,499-kilometre journey taking around 17 hours and 45 minutes.
The fifth and sixth longest flights in the world by distance also depart from Australia, both also run by Qantas. The Dallas to Melbourne route clocks in at around 14,472 kilometres (17 hours, 35 minutes), while the Perth to Paris flight follows at 14,264 kilometres (17 hours, 15 minutes).
In 2027, all these flights will be bumped down the rankings when Qantas debuts its non-stop Sydney to Heathrow route. With an air time of around 20 hours across 17,015 kilometres, it’ll be more than an hour longer than the current longest flight! Qantas has also teased a direct 18- or 19-hour flight from Sydney to New York, which will cover roughly 16,200 kilometres. However, we’ll have to wait and see when this one is ready for takeoff.
Keen to check out what the first class cabins will feature on the world's longest flight route? Click here.
The 10 longest flights in the world, by miles
- New York (JFK) to Singapore (SIN) – 15,349km (18 hours, 50 minutes)
- Newark (EWR) to Singapore (SIN) – 15,344 km(18 hours, 45 minutes)
- Auckland (AKL) to Doha (DOH) – 14,535km (17 hours, 30 minutes)
- Perth (PER) to London (LHR) – 14,499km (17 hours, 45 minutes)
- Dallas (DFW) to Melbourne (MEL) – 14,472km (17 hours, 25 minutes)
- Perth (PER) to Paris (CGD) – 14,264km (17 hours, 15 minutes)
- New York (JFK) to Auckland (AKL) – 14,207km (17 hours, 30 minutes)
- Auckland (AKL) to Dubai (DBX) – 14,200km (17 hours, 5 minutes)
- Shenzhen (SZX) to Mexico City (MEX) – 14,147km (16 hours, 20 minutes)
- Los Angeles (LAX) to Singapore (SIN) – 14,114km (17 hours, 15 minutes)