The Ultimate Guide to the Longest Flight in the World in 2025

What Does “Longest Flight in the World” Even Mean?

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Current Longest Non-Stop Commercial Flight (2025)

Singapore Airlines — New York (JFK) ↔ Singapore (SIN)

This is currently the longest non-stop scheduled passenger flight in the world, and it’s absolutely legendary.

This flight first began in 2020 and has held its crown ever since - flying nearly 19 hours straight across continents and oceans.

It feels almost surreal when you realize you’re crossing half the Earth without getting off the plane – the sky truly becomes your home for a day.

Record Update: New Longest Non-Stop Flight?

In late 2025, a new record-breaker emerged in the nonstop category:

Xiamen Air’s New York (JFK) → Fuzhou (FOC) flight, clocking up to 19 hours and 20 minutes in the air.

This flight pushes past the Singapore Airlines record in duration – mostly because it avoids flying over Russia, which makes the route take longer in time, even if the distance isn’t greater.

So yes – as of late 2025, there are two ways to define “longest”:

• By distance: Singapore ↔ New York (still #1)
• By flight time: Xiamen Air’s JFK ↔ Fuzhou route

Why Ultra-Long-Haul Flights Are Possible

So how do airlines even manage to fly for nearly a full day without stopping?

• Modern Wide-Body Aircraft – Planes like the Airbus A350-900ULR and Boeing 787-9 are engineered for efficiency with lighter materials, larger fuel capacity, and super-efficient engines.
• Fuel Efficiency Improvements – Better aerodynamics and fuel burn rates make it possible to fly farther than ever before.
• Improved Passenger Comfort – From low cabin pressure to advanced lighting, flying long distances is more bearable today.
• Strategic Flight Routing – Jets take the most fuel-efficient paths, even if that means circumnavigating airspaces that might add time.

Top 10 Longest Non-Stop Flights in the World

There’s sometimes a difference between "top by distance" and "top by duration" — because flight times also depend on winds, weather conditions, and airspace restrictions. 

New Longest Flight Records & Special Cases

Longest Scheduled Direct Route

A new ultra-long route from Shanghai → Buenos Aires launched in late 2025 covering roughly 20,000 km (~12,427 miles) and lasting over a full day of travel, but it includes a fuel stop in Auckland, New Zealand that does not require passengers to deplane. Because this is not technically non-stop, it’s called the longest direct flight route, not a non-stop.

This means aviation now has two kinds of “longest” flights:

• Longest non-stop (no stops at all)
• Longest direct but with a stop where passengers stay onboard

Flight Duration vs. Distance — What’s the Difference?

When we say “longest flight,” people often assume it means the longest distance flown. But in aviation, there are two important measures:

Distance

• Measured in miles or kilometers – how far between airport A & B on a map.
• Usually based on great-circle distance (the shortest path over Earth’s surface).

Duration

• Time from when the aircraft pushes back from the gate in the origin until it reaches the gate at the destination.
• Influenced by winds, speed, routing, air traffic control, and sometimes weather.

So a flight with a slightly shorter distance might still take longer time due to routing choices — which is why New York → Fuzhou can have a higher duration record even if the distance is shorter than New York → Singapore.

What It Feels Like to Be on the Longest Flight in the World

Cabin Experience

Ultra-long-haul flights usually feature:

• Comfortable seats (especially in premium cabins)
• Advanced cabin pressure control to reduce fatigue
• Mood lighting to help with jet-lag
• Entertainment systems and Wi-Fi on many long-haul aircraft

Planes like the Airbus A350-900ULR and Boeing 787 are engineered to make your body feel less tired compared to older jets.

What to Expect

• Daytime segment: Views, meal services, and movies!
• Nighttime segment: Sleep becomes your best friend.
• Mid-flight meal service is standard (often two meals).
• Flight attendants on ultra-long flights are trained to assist with comfort and pacing of service.

Travel Tips for Ultra-Long Haul Flights

Before Flight

• Choose a good seat early (bulkhead or aisle if you plan to move around)
• Apply moisturizer and stay hydrated (cabin air is dry!)
• Wear comfortable layers and compression socks

During the Flight

• Walk around every few hours
• Do light stretching in your seat
• Load up entertainment (movies, podcasts, music playlists)

Sleep Tips

• Use a neck pillow
• Bring eye mask and earplugs
• Avoid alcohol (it dehydrates)

FAQs

Q: What is the longest flight in the world right now?

A: The record for the longest non-stop flight is New York (JFK) to Fuzhou (FOC) at about 19hr 20min with Xiamen Air.

Q: Is Singapore Airlines still on the list?

A: Yes – its flights between New York/Singapore remain among the longest non-stop by distance and time.

Q: Are there longer flights with stops?

A: Yes – new direct routes like Shanghai → Buenos Aires are longer in total distance but include a brief fuel stop.