Longest flight in the world (2026): the top 10

Some flights take up most of your day. On the world's longest routes, you can spend more than 18 hours in the air without touching the ground. So which flights hold the record?

In this article, we look at the record-breakers: the 10 longest non-stop flights in the world, the longest flight from the UK, what life on board is really like, and what you're entitled to if your flight is delayed.

What is the longest flight in the world?

The longest flight in the world is Singapore Airlines' non-stop route between Singapore and New York JFK. It covers 15,341 km (9,532 miles) and takes around 18 hours and 20 minutes, so it's the longest scheduled commercial flight and the longest direct flight in the world in both distance and time. That's enough to watch about nine films back to back.

The 10 longest non-stop flights in the world

These are the longest scheduled passenger flights in service in November 2026, ranked by flight time, based on flight times and distances from AeroCorner. We've used the time for the slowest direction, because the return leg is often 20 to 40 minutes quicker, depending on the winds.

Two routes share the top spot: Singapore Airlines flies to both New York airports, and the JFK route is only about 5 km longer than the Newark one. Look closely and you'll also notice that London to Perth covers more distance than Dallas to Melbourne, yet takes less time. On routes this long, the winds make a big difference.

The longest flight from the UK and London

If you're flying from the UK, the longest nonstop option is Qantas' London Heathrow to Perth route: 14,508 km in around 17 hours. Qantas also flies nonstop to Perth from Paris and, in summer, from Rome.

Before it launched, every trip from the UK to Australia meant at least one stop, usually somewhere in Asia or the Middle East. Now you can leave London in the afternoon, have dinner, get some sleep and wake up somewhere over the Indian Ocean.

How do ultra-long flights work?

An ordinary airliner simply can't fly 18 hours nonstop with a full cabin. That's why these routes rely on long-range aircraft, mostly the Airbus A350 and the Boeing 787, which burn much less fuel than the older four-engine jets.

Singapore Airlines goes a step further with the A350-900ULR (ultra-long range), a special version of the A350 with a bigger fuel system. To keep the weight down, it carries fewer passengers than a regular A350, and there's no economy class at all: only business and premium economy seats.

Life on board is a little different from a regular long-haul flight, too:

• Extra crew: there are enough pilots and cabin crew to work in shifts, and they take turns resting in hidden bunks above or below the cabin.
• Meals timed to your destination: meals and cabin lighting follow your destination's clock, to help your body adjust and keep jet lag to a minimum.
• Space to move: some aircraft have a self-service snack bar or a stretching area, so you can get up and walk around instead of sitting still for 18 hours.

Booked one of these flights? Drink plenty of water, go easy on the alcohol, get up for a walk every couple of hours and try to sleep according to your destination's time zone. Our guide to jet lag has plenty more tips.

Coming soon: Sydney to London nonstop

Singapore's record won't last forever, though. In June 2026, Qantas confirmed that it will launch the first nonstop flights between Sydney and London in October 2027, under the name Project Sunrise. The flight is expected to take up to 22 hours, which would make it the longest scheduled passenger flight ever.

To pull it off, Qantas will use a specially built Airbus A350-1000ULR with an extra fuel tank. And that plane already holds a record of its own. In July 2026, Airbus flew a test aircraft nonstop from Melbourne to Toulouse: 23,155 km in 24 hours and 24 minutes, with just 13 people on board. In November, Guinness World Records confirmed it as the longest flight by distance ever flown by a commercial airliner, using tracking data from Flightradar24. It will carry just 238 passengers across four cabins, far fewer than a normal A350-1000, and there will be a wellbeing zone where you can stretch your legs. Tickets go on sale in February 2027, and if all goes to plan, Sydney to New York nonstop will be next.

Delayed on a long flight? Know your rights

No matter how long your flight is, a long delay is always frustrating. The good news: you may be entitled to compensation if you arrive at your destination 3 hours or more late, or if your flight is cancelled at short notice.