For years, Qantas Airways has been working towards what was once considered one of the most ambitious goals in commercial aviation: a non-stop flight from Australia to London lasting more than 20 hours.
That dream is now much closer to becoming a reality. Under its Project Sunrise programme, Qantas plans to launch non-stop flights between Sydney and London from October 2027, followed by Sydney to New York. The airline has ordered specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR aircraft for the routes, which are designed to fly more than 16,000km and stay in the air for up to 22 hours.
The project is a significant change from Qantas’ original plans. When the airline first announced Project Sunrise, it challenged Airbus and Boeing to develop aircraft capable of making non-stop flights from Australia’s east coast to destinations such as London and New York. Qantas eventually selected Airbus’ A350-1000ULR, ordering 12 aircraft in 2022.
The first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in 2027, with daily Sydney–London services expected to begin in October that year.
If the service launches as planned, it will become one of the world’s longest flights and one of the most significant new routes for premium travellers, but it will not immediately hold the record for the longest non-stop flight by distance.
That title currently belongs to Singapore Airlines’ non-stop service between New York and Singapore.
The route covers roughly 15,332km (9,537 miles) and can take around 19 hours, depending on winds and routing. It is operated by the Airbus A350-900ULR, an aircraft specifically designed for ultra-long-haul flights, with a cabin focused on business class and premium economy rather than economy class.
Singapore Airlines previously operated a non-stop Singapore–Newark service between 2004 and 2013, but rising fuel prices eventually made the route uneconomical. The airline brought the non-stop service back in 2018 with the new A350-900ULR, initially making Singapore–Newark the world’s longest commercial flight.
For affluent travellers interested in business class, premium economy and the future of ultra-long-haul flying, this ranking looks at the world’s longest non-stop commercial flights operating in 2026, the aircraft used on them, the airline strategies behind routes such as Project Sunrise, and what upcoming services mean for premium travel with fewer or no layovers.
1. New York to Singapore, Singapore Airlines
Singapore Airlines currently operates the world’s longest non-stop commercial flight, the longest non-stop flight between New York’s JFK Airport and Singapore Changi Airport.
The journey covers approximately 15,332km (9,537 miles) and can take around 19 hours, though flight time varies with winds, making it one of the most demanding scheduled passenger flights anywhere in the world.
The route is operated by the Airbus A350-900ULR, or Ultra Long Range, the plane used on this Singapore flight, configured with Business Class and Premium Economy seats rather than Economy Class. It has a range of 9,700 nautical miles.
2. Newark to Singapore, Singapore Airlines
Just behind the JFK service is Singapore Airlines’ non-stop flight between Newark Liberty International Airport and Singapore.
The route covers approximately 15,329km (9,534 miles), making it only around 3km shorter than the airline’s JFK service. When it returned in 2018, this Singapore–Newark service briefly became the world's longest flight again.
The flight is also operated by the Airbus A350-900ULR, a plane with a range of 9,700 nautical miles, and takes roughly 19 hours, depending on the direction and weather conditions.
Interestingly, this was once the undisputed longest commercial flight in the world. Singapore Airlines originally operated the Singapore–Newark route from 2004 until 2013 before bringing it back in 2018 with the A350-900ULR, and it still remains a landmark route for Newark Airport. It uses the same aircraft as the JFK route.
3. Auckland to Doha, Qatar Airways
Qatar Airways’ non-stop service between Auckland and Doha is currently the third-longest scheduled commercial flight in the world.
The route covers approximately 14,535km (9,032 miles) and can take more than 16 hours depending on the direction of travel.
The route is operated by an Airbus A350-1000, rather than the Boeing 777-200LR that was used when the route originally claimed the world’s longest-flight record.
When the Auckland–Doha service launched, it was briefly the longest scheduled passenger flight in the world. Today, it sits behind Singapore Airlines’ two ultra-long-haul services.
4. Perth to London, Qantas
Qantas already operates an extremely long non-stop service between Perth and London Heathrow, covering approximately 14,499km (9,010 miles).
The route is operated by the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner and typically takes around 17 hours, depending on the direction and prevailing winds. Avoiding a layover is a major part of the route’s appeal on such a long trip.
The Perth–London service is particularly significant because it demonstrated that passengers were willing to travel for more than 17 hours non-stop, helping pave the way for Qantas’ much more ambitious Project Sunrise flights from Sydney.
5. Auckland to New York, Air New Zealand
Air New Zealand’s non-stop service between Auckland and New York covers approximately 14,207km (8,839 miles).
The route crosses the Pacific and is one of the longest passenger flights in the world, with flight times generally approaching 17 hours depending on the direction.
The service is operated by Air New Zealand’s long-haul fleet and provides one of the few non-stop connections between New Zealand and the US East Coast.
6. Melbourne to Dallas-Fort Worth, Qantas
Qantas also operates one of the world’s longest flights between Melbourne and Dallas-Fort Worth.
The route covers roughly 14,166km (8,803 miles) and connects Australia with the major American aviation hub in Texas. Dallas-Fort Worth and Sydney also support the return round trip on one of Qantas’ longest North America services.
It is one of several ultra-long-haul routes that demonstrate how modern aircraft have made non-stop Australia–North America services increasingly practical.
7. San Francisco to Bengaluru, United Airlines
United Airlines’ non-stop service between San Francisco (SFO) and Bengaluru covers approximately 13,993km (8,692 miles).
The route links California with southern India and is one of the longest non-stop services between the United States and India.
Los Angeles and San Francisco are both important West Coast gateways for ultra-long-haul service, although this route is centred on Northern California.
The flight is operated using the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, an aircraft that has become a major part of airlines’ ultra-long-haul strategies thanks to its range and fuel efficiency.
8. Houston to Sydney, United Airlines
United Airlines’ Houston–Sydney service covers approximately 13,834km (8,596 miles).
The non-stop flight connects the southern United States with Australia and can take well over 16 hours, depending on the direction of travel and weather conditions.
It is another example of how the Boeing 787 has allowed airlines to operate extremely long routes that previously would have required a stopover.
9. Sydney to Dallas-Fort Worth, Qantas
Qantas’ Sydney–Dallas-Fort Worth route covers approximately 13,800km (8,575 miles).
The route has been operating non-stop since 2014 and remains one of the longest commercial flights in the world.
It was originally operated by the Airbus A380, allowing Qantas to carry large numbers of passengers over the long trans-Pacific route.
10. San Francisco to Singapore, Singapore Airlines and United Airlines
Rounding out the list is the non-stop service between San Francisco and Singapore, covering roughly 13,600km (8,450 miles).
Both Singapore Airlines and United Airlines operate non-stop services on the route, although the aircraft and schedules vary between the two carriers.
The route takes around 17 hours in the air and has become one of the most important long-haul links between the United States and Southeast Asia.
The future of ultra-long-haul flights
The definition of the world’s longest flight is likely to change again in the next few years.
Qantas’ Project Sunrise is expected to push commercial aviation further than ever before when Sydney–London non-stop flights begin in 2027. The specially configured Airbus A350-1000ULR will carry just 238 passengers across four cabins, giving the aircraft a much lower seat density than a conventional A350-1000.
Qantas says the aircraft will be capable of flying more than 16,000km non-stop and for up to 22 hours. The first Sydney–London flights are scheduled to begin in October 2027, with tickets expected to go on sale in February 2027.
For passengers, however, the race for the longest flight is about more than simply breaking a record. Airlines are increasingly looking at whether travellers are willing to spend 18, 19 or even more than 20 hours in the air in exchange for avoiding a connection.
With the latest generation of Airbus A350s and Boeing 787s making ultra-long-haul flying more efficient, the answer appears to be yes.
And if Qantas’ Project Sunrise goes according to plan, the world’s longest flights are about to get even longer.
