# Longest regular non-stop airplane flight. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 25, 2010, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881 "2010-11-25T15:43:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/163 "2020-11-14T03:34:59Z")
> [@Mark\_Finn](#): > > ot really relevant in this case, since the NY-SIN flight would be in the northern hemisphere at all time They aren’t going to fly the South Pole route, but from Newark they fly left, up, or right depending on the weather. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/164 "2020-11-14T04:20:06Z")
Here’s a picture: [https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AIZSGWPBO2k8LXLoydVTSA--~A/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9MTQ2NjtoPTE0NDQ-/http://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed\_manager\_auto\_publish\_494/041bf9c0c4bddf235c812eda474b99e8](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AIZSGWPBO2k8LXLoydVTSA--~A/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjtzbT0xO3c9MTQ2NjtoPTE0NDQ-/http://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/041bf9c0c4bddf235c812eda474b99e8) [![](http://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/041bf9c0c4bddf235c812eda474b99e8) ](http://media.zenfs.com/en/homerun/feed_manager_auto_publish_494/041bf9c0c4bddf235c812eda474b99e8) ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/165 "2020-11-14T12:53:22Z")
Even if the polar route was shorter (JFK/EWR-SIN), I think they would be hesitant to use it due to the lack of emergency landing places along the way. (even the Pacific is dotted with landing strips). ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2020, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/166 "2020-11-14T20:54:54Z")
The picture I posted only shows the left and right routes, but I’ve seen a report that they flew Canada/North pole in one direction and Pacific-side in the other direction. I think it depends on the wind. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2020, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/167 "2020-11-16T02:29:49Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > Other than the occasional kangaroo I’d wager. It was the NT, so the real hazard is cattle/water buffalo. When I visited, I was told ``` Be very careful driving at night: at night, don't drive. ``` ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2020, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/168 "2020-11-30T02:49:25Z")
There are flights that use the polar route as normal procedure. For example SFO to Dubai on Emirates Airlines flies almost directly over the North Pole. Nowadays, it’s not that unusual. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2021, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/169 "2021-02-07T20:08:24Z")
Good overview of the seating arrangements when you fly for that long. > **[The new world's longest flight is getting an upgrade as Singapore Airlines...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/worlds-longest-flight-getting-upgrade-132100502.html)** > > Singapore Airlines just launched the new world's longest flight between New York and Singapore in November 2020, and it's already getting an upgrade. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/170 "2022-03-24T13:42:25Z")
A new long flight is in the works. I love some of the seating arrangements, especially the skycouch. > **[Air New Zealand will operate the 4th longest flight in the world when it...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/air-zealand-operate-4th-longest-171810020.html)** > > Air New Zealand will push the limits of its Boeing 787 with a nearly 18-hour flight from New York to Auckland, strengthening its alliance with United. ---
**Author:** ![Mark\_Finn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@Mark\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mark_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2022, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/171 "2022-03-25T14:38:28Z")
You arrive in NY 15 minutes after leaving NZ. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/172 "2023-06-16T14:36:47Z")
The QANTAS Airbus 350s that will be used for these longhaul flights have some interesting features. > **[A350 Wellbeing Zone | Qantas](https://www.qantas.com/us/en/about-us/our-company/fleet/new-fleet/project-sunrise/wellbeing-zone.html)** > > Stretch your legs in our wellbeing zone, available to all passengers and situated between the Premium Economy and Economy cabins. ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/173 "2023-06-16T18:52:43Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > There are flights that use the polar route as normal procedure. For example SFO to Dubai on Emirates Airlines flies almost directly over the North Pole. Nowadays, it’s not that unusual. I took Emirates Dubai to Toronto, and it followed pretty much the second part of that left hand (Atlantic) track. I have some nice pictures of the southern end of Greenland from the air as well as of Iran and the Caspian Sea. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/174 "2023-06-16T23:02:26Z")
Wow, those First suites are larger than some hotel rooms I’ve stayed in! ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2023, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/175 "2023-07-18T21:15:29Z")
That flight is a popular insiders’ tip among Germans who want to go to New York. You can buy a ticket for the Frankfurt-New York leg and board at Frankfurt. You get Singapore Airlines service (which is outstanding) on a route where you wouldn’t expect it. Or so I’ve heard; I’ve never done that myself. I have done Singapore-Frankfurt (also my longest flight so far, at a bit more than 12 hours), but I’m not sure if that plane would then keep going to New York. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/176 "2025-09-16T00:22:54Z")
It’s not non-stop, but it is direct with a refueling stop in NZ. Buenos Aires, to Shanghai - 29 hours. > **[A Chinese airline is launching a 12,000-mile, 29-hour-long flight across the...](https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/chinese-airline-launching-12-000-141411841.html)** > > China Eastern Airlines is set to operate a 29-hour flight from Argentina to Shanghai, with a stopover in New Zealand, starting in December. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/177 "2025-09-16T11:43:25Z")
I wonder why they chose Auckland, of all places, to refuel. Shanghai & Buenos Aires are so close to being antipodal that they could stop for fuel literally anywhere in the world and not add very much distance to the flight. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/178 "2025-09-16T12:33:19Z")
I suppose it’s because New Zealand is so far out of the way as to offer relatively uncongested air space (and hence cheaper rates than busier airports), while at the same time still being an interesting destination in itself, which makes it attractive for passengers who want to book only one of the two legs of the flight. But that’s just a guess. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/179 "2025-09-16T16:00:18Z")
Or it could be something as simple as the airline is being subsidized to fly to New Zealand. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/180 "2025-09-16T16:24:47Z")
Why would it be subsidized? A two hour layover without passengers leaving the plane? ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/181 "2025-09-16T18:19:57Z")
Not every seat on the plane will be taken by passengers wanting the full 29 hour end to end journey. To make the route viable the carrier is almost certainly going to be counting on China - New Zealand and New Zealand - Argentina passengers. Plus some passengers are likely to want to break the journey. Whilst the route is a long haul with a fuel stop for the plane, for passengers and crew it still looks like two flights. The plane will almost certainly change crew. Lots of international flights look like this. Back when I was flying to Europe a lot the standard flight was QF-8 Adelaide - Singapore and swap to QF-10 which was the Brisbane - London flight that refueled in Singapore. It was a tight connection, but a good fraction of the plane’s passengers changed during the stop. The long haul BNE-LHR might have been one of the longer international routes, it didn’t operate as a closed system. I would expect this new route to be the same. This route is providing New Zealand with routes to Shanghai and Argentina. If there is competition for where the break is, they might provide some incentive to the airline to route their way. New Zealand is a reasonably popular tourist destination, so there are lots of reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881/182 "2025-09-16T18:46:38Z")
There is, or at least there was for a long time, a Singapore Airlines flight from Singapore to New York with a refuelling stop in Frankfurt. For people living in Germany, booking only the second leg of this flight was a popular option to go to New York enjoying high-end service. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/longest-regular-non-stop-airplane-flight/561881.md?page=10)