The 20 Longest Flights

Since the Wright brothers first took to the skies, humanity has made rapid progress. Many engineers have been honoured for their innovative designs in aviation.

If you find yourself wondering how far we have come today, then first check out this list of the 20 longest commercial flights in the world! The list refers to direct flights, over 16 hours without a stopover!

20) New York to Mumbai – 7807 miles and 16 hours!

One of dozens of flights departing from New York, it transports passengers from America to Mumbai! The 16-hour – and 7800-mile – journey and route definitely leave passengers plenty of time to do many interesting things during the flight!

19) New York to Taipei – 7808 miles and 15.5 hours!

The New York – Taipei route is almost identical in distance and hours. The route started in 2011 and has since seen continuous growth. Air ticket sales show an increase of almost 15% every year!

18) Toronto to Hong Kong – 7810 miles and 15.5 hours!

The longest flight originating from Canada lasts 15.5 hours and covers a distance of 7810 miles! It is operated by Canada's national airline, Air Canada, with a Boeing 777 featuring cabins and a distinguished business class!

17) Los Angeles to Melbourne – 7921 miles and 16 hours!

The Los Angeles – Melbourne route is one of the longest worldwide. From its departure in California, the aircraft will not land before 16 hours! The flight is operated by a Boeing 787 Dreamliner!

16) Dallas to Doha – 7931 miles and 16.5 hours!

This particular route was added to the list in 2014 and is operated by Qatar Airways. Demand for airline tickets is huge and has increased by almost 30% in recent years! They are certainly not the cheapest, as their return fare averages €1700!

15) New York to Johannesburg – 7969 miles and 16 hours

South African Airways continues to offer an amazing route! It connects New York with Johannesburg on a 16-hour flight! The connection has been operating for over 40 years with only a brief interruption in the 1980s. Today it is an amazing gateway for Americans to explore Africa's enticing urban landscapes!

14) New York to Guangzhou – 8002 miles and 16 hours

This is the first route on the list to cross the 8000-mile mark. A 16-hour flight connecting America – China. The Chinese city embodies living in China, and the relatively low prices of air tickets (from just €960) make the route a feasible tourist – and business due to factories – destination!

13) Dallas to Dubai – 8040 miles and 16.5 hours

This flight between Dallas and Dubai is daily and carries over 300 passengers between the two cities. It is operated by Emirates with almost 95% occupancy per route. The aircraft operating it offers all amenities such as cabins, entertainment, etc.

12) Houston to Doha – 8047 miles and 16.5 hours

The second destination for Doha! It brings passengers daily from and to Houston, United States. A Qatar Airways Boeing 777 operates this 16.5-hour route.

11) New York to Hong Kong – 8072 miles and 16 hours

The longest route departing from and arriving in New York! Cathay Pacific, an airline that has been awarded multiple times for its services, operates this 'unusual' route which starts from New York, takes passengers to the North Pole and then near the South Pole in Siberia, before slowly reaching Hong Kong after 16 hours of flight!

10) San Francisco to Dubai – 8101 miles and 16 hours!

This relatively new route from San Francisco to Dubai adds another Emirates gateway to the Middle East. Passengers flying enjoy the comforts of a Boeing 777-300ER which includes, among other things, 42 reclining first-class seats, increased legroom for all 216 economy class seats, and entertainment screens. Air tickets for economy class start from €800 / route.

09) Dallas to Hong Kong – 8123 miles and 16.5 hours

This route started in 2014 and is the first connection between Dallas and China!

08) San Francisco to Abu Dhabi – 8158 miles and 16 hours

In November 2014, Etihad launched this new direct, non-stop connection from San Francisco to the United Arab Emirates in 16 hours, having covered 8158 miles.

07) Houston to Dubai – 8168 miles and 16.5 hours

Emirates also operates this route, enormous in distance and time! With a Boeing 777-300ER and air tickets around €1000, the journey between Houston and Dubai becomes a reality!

06) Los Angeles to Jeddah – 8332 miles and 17 hours

From California and American air, in 17 hours to Jeddah! The connection between Los Angeles and Jeddah by Saudia Airlines.

05) Los Angeles to Dubai – 8339 and 16.5 hours

Starting again from Los Angeles, the next route on the list, this time to Dubai! 8339 miles and 16.5 hours separate these two cities!

04) Los Angeles to Abu Dhabi – 8390 miles and 16.5 hours

Almost 17 hours to get from LA to Dubai!

03) Atlanta to Johannesburg – 8439 miles and 16.5 hours

Delta Airlines operates this route in 16.5 hours. The journey crosses the entire Atlantic before descending over Namibia.

02) Dallas to Sydney – 8578 miles and 17 hours

Qantas offers the second longest non-stop plane journey! A giant Airbus A380 makes the route comfortable for every seat type. More legroom, larger cabins, and better facilities are the company's commitment for this 17-hour journey!

01) Dubai to Panama – 8588 miles and 17.5 hours

And we've reached number one on the list! From Dubai to Panama, in less than 18 hours – this is the longest direct flight in the world and is operated by Emirates. Announced in August 2015, it is a daily route. For about 30 minutes, it claims dominance on the relevant list from the Dallas-Sydney route. Demand for air tickets is huge, and the related occupancy reaches 100% on every route!

Which route would you choose?