Photographs: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
When airport security, long queues and cramped seats make even a two-hour journey an unpleasant experience for many passengers, then imagine the plight of those who have to endure more than 12 hours on a non-stop flight.
Let's take a look some of the longest non-stop flights in the world.
Source: The Economist
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: Passengers sleep on makeshift beds in Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport in west London.Photographs: Toby Melville/Reuters
Hong Kong-Heathrow
Distance: 21,602km
Time: 22 hours and 42 minutes
Airline: Boeing
Overall rank: 1
Boeing launched a test-flight from Hong Kong to Heathrow airport in London in November 2005. This is the longest ever non-stop test-flight in the world.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: Singapore Airlines cabin crew walk past check-in counters at Terminal 3 of Singapore's Changi Airport.Photographs: Edgar Su/Reuters
Changi-Newark Liberty
Distance: 15,263km
Time: 18 hours
Airline: Singapore Airline
Overall rank: 2
Singapore Airline's flight from Changi airport in Singapore to Newark Liberty in New Jersey, United States, took 18 hours of non-stop flying to complete the journey. The carrier discontinued the service last month.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: A view of Triton unmanned aircraft in Palmdale, California. Photo is for representation purpose only.Photographs: Northrop Grumman/Alex Evers/Handout/Reuters
California-South Australia
Distance: 13,840km
Time: 23 hours and 23 minutes
Airline: Unmanned aircraft
Overall rank: 3
An unmanned aircraft flew nearly 14,000km from California, United States, to South Australia. This is the longest flight by an unmanned aircraft.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: German backpacker Lisa Berkemeyer uses her laptop at the Qantas domestic terminal in Sydney's airport.Photographs: Daniel Munoz/Reuters
Sydney-Dallas/Fort Worth
Distance: 13,790km
Time: 15 hours and 10 minutes
Airline: Qantas
Overall rank: 4
Qantas's flight from Sydney, Australia, to Dallas/Fort Worth airport in Texas, United States, takes more than 15 hours of non-stop flying.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: A view of Maynard H Jackson Jr. International Terminal at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Atlanta, Georgia.Photographs: Tami Chappell/Reuters
OR Tambo-Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta
Distance: 13,527km
Time: 16 hours and 55 minutes
Airline: Delta
Overall rank: 5
Delta's flight from OR Tambo airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta in Georgia, United States, flies for more than 13,500km non-stop.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: The last British Airways passenger Concorde flight lands at London's Heathrow airport from New York on October 24, 2003.Photographs: Stephen Hird/Reuters
Heathrow-Barbados round trip
Distance: 13,504km
Time: 8 hours
Airline: Concorde
Overall rank: 6
Concorde's round trip from Heathrow airport in London, United Kingdom, to Barbados covered 13,504km. The flight was discontinued in August 2003.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: Delayed passengers sit on a baggage conveyer belt at Los Angeles airport in California.Photographs: Lucy Nicholson/Reuters
Dubai-Los Angeles
Distance: 13,412km
Time: 16 hours and 30 minutes
Airline: Emirates
Overall rank: 7
Emirates's flight from Dubai airport to Los Angeles flies for more than 13,400km non-stop.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: Ticketing agents talk with travellers at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in Gapevine, Texas.Photographs: Mike Stone/Reuters
Dallas/Fort Worth-Brisbane
Distance: 13,356km
Time: 16 hours and 15 minutes
Airline: Qantas
Overall rank: 8
Qantas's flight from Dallas/Fort Worth airport in Texas, United States, to Brisbane, Australia, flies for more than 13,300km non-stop.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: Travellers at the Emirates terminal at Dubai International Airport.Photographs: Jumana El Heloueh/Reuters
Dubai-George Bush
Distance: 13,140km
Time: 16 hours and 35 minutes
Airline: Emirates
Overall rank: 9
Emirates's flight from Dubai airport to George Bush airport in Houston, United States, flies for more than 13,140km non-stop.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: Airline passengers look at a flight status board at San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California.Photographs: Robert Galbraith/Reuters
Dubai-San Francisco
Distance: 13,037km
Time: 16 hours
Airline: Emirates
Overall rank: 10
Emirates's flight from Dubai airport to San Francisco, United States, flies for more than 13,000km non-stop.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: Members of the Skaneateles Bantam ice hockey team do a calisthenics drill to pass the time at JFK International Airport in New York.Photographs: Jessica Rinaldi/Reuters
JFK-Hong Kong
Distance: 12,983km
Time: 16 hours and 15 minutes
Airline: Cathay Pacific
Overall rank: 11
Cathay Pacific's flight from John F Kennedy airport in New York to Hong Kong flies for nearly 13,000km non-stop.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: Travellers make their way through Newark's Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey.Photographs: Mike Segar/Reuters
Newark Liberty-Hong Kong
Distance: 12,971km
Time: 16 hours
Airline: United Airlines
Overall rank: 12
United Airlines's flight from Newark Liberty airport in New Jersey to Hong Kong flies for more than 12,900km non-stop.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: A view of Hamad International airport in Doha.Photographs: Fadi Al-Assaad/Reuters
Doha-George Bush
Distance: 12,949km
Time: 16 hours and 30 minutes
Airline: Qatar Airways
Overall rank: 13
Qatar Airways's flight from Doha in Qatar to George Bush airport in Houston, United States, flies for 12,949km non-stop.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: A plane passes in between the Emirates Airlines terminal, left, and a terminal dedicated for A380 aircraft, right, at the concourse in Dubai International Airport.Photographs: Jumana El Heloueh/Reuters
Dubai-Dallas/Fort Worth
Distance: 12,936km
Time: 16 hours and 20 minutes
Airline: Emirates
Overall rank: 14
Emirates's flight from Dubai to Dallas/Fort Worth airport in Texas, United States, flies for 12,936km non-stop.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: Passengers have their passports checked at a security screening location at JFK International Airport in New York.Photographs: Chip East/Reuters
JFK-OR Tambo
Distance: 12,822km
Time: 14 hours and 45 minutes
Airline: South African Airways
Overall rank: 15
South African Airways's flight from John F Kennedy airport in New York to Johannesburg, South Africa, flies for 12,822km non-stop.
...
16 longest non-stop flights in the world
Image: Travellers at the Delta Airlines arrival area at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles, California.Photographs: Jonathan Alcorn/Reuters
Los Angeles-Melbourne
Distance: 12,746km
Time: 15 hours and 50 minutes
Airline: Qantas
Overall rank: 16
Qantas's flight from Los Angeles to Melbourne, Australia, flies for 12,746km non-stop.
article