See half the world from a porthole

Recently, we wrote about a Qatar Airways aircraft that completed the world’s longest commercial flight from Doha (Qatar) to Auckland (New Zealand) and how it was welcomed in the “new territory”.

Today, we will tell you about the longest sky routes. For some, they become a living hell, for others—an unforgettable and exciting challenge.

Doha — Auckland, 14.5 thousand kilometers

Airline: Qatar Airways Flight time: 16 hours 23 minutes (return flight — over 18 hours) Aircraft: Boeing 777 The latest launched “longest flight” takes passengers almost 16 and a half hours. During this time, the liner flies 14,535 kilometers. The Boeing 777 cabin has 217 economy class seats and 42 business class seats. The crew consists of 4 pilots and 15 flight attendants. During the flight, passengers drink over a thousand servings of tea and coffee, two thousand servings of soft drinks, and eat a thousand servings of in-flight meals. Due to headwinds, the return flight lasts almost two hours longer: passengers spend over 18 hours in the air.

Dubai — Auckland, 14.2 thousand kilometers

Airline: Emirates Flight time: 17 hours 25 minutes Aircraft: Airbus A380 More than 17 hours of flight is not an easy test for passengers, but such a flight helps save an average of three hours of travel time. In addition, passengers fly in comfort: the Airbus A380 is designed specifically for ultra-long-haul flights. The flight from Dubai to Auckland departs at 10:05 AM and arrives in Auckland at 11:00 AM the next day local time. If you want to get to Auckland, there is a convenient connection in Dubai lasting three to four hours, so the entire journey to New Zealand will take an average of 25 hours. In first-class cabins, passengers can use their private showers.

Dallas — Sydney, 13.8 thousand kilometers

Airline: Qantas Flight time: 16 hours 55 minutes Aircraft: Airbus A380-800 This is the only non-stop flight between Australia and the East Coast of the USA. Planes fly six times a week: every day except Tuesday. On board, there are four classes of seats: 14 private suites in first class, 64 seats in business class, 35 premium economy seats, and 371 economy class seats. The first A380 that operated this flight had a special livery: a kangaroo (the airline’s traditional symbol) on the tail of the aircraft was depicted wearing a cowboy hat and a star-spangled bandana around its neck. Today, unfortunately, this aircraft has been replaced by a liner in standard Qantas livery.

San Francisco — Singapore, 13.6 thousand kilometers

Airline: United Airlines, Singapore Airlines Flight time: 16 hours 30 minutes (17 hours 15 minutes according to winter schedule) Aircraft: Boeing 787–9 / Airbus A350–900 Passengers flying from San Francisco to Singapore engage in an interesting game with time due to time zones. On their way from the USA to Asia, they imperceptibly lose almost two days: they depart at 22:55 from the USA and land at Changi Airport at 6:15 AM local time, but two days later. However, the return journey on flight UA 1 takes only 30 minutes by the clock: departure from Singapore at 8:45 AM and landing in the States at 9:15 AM (and, of course, 16 hours in flight). In business class, many carriers offer seats that recline into a full bed.

Johannesburg — Atlanta, 13.6 thousand kilometers

Airline: Delta Airlines Flight time: 16 hours 50 minutes Aircraft: Boeing 777–200LR The flight from Johannesburg to Atlanta is served by four pilots and two separate teams of flight attendants who relieve each other during the flight. For a 17-hour flight, the aircraft requires over 150 thousand liters of fuel. The airline shared interesting statistics about this flight with the world: over a year of flights, passengers on this route drink about 70 thousand cans of soda, eat 100 thousand packages of crackers, 200 thousand bags of peanuts, and more than 225 thousand kilograms of ice are used for drinks.

Abu Dhabi — Los Angeles, 13.5 thousand kilometers

Airline: Etihad Airways Flight time: 16 hours 30 minutes Aircraft: Boeing 777–200LR From California to the UAE capital, an Airbus A340–500 initially flew, accommodating 240 passengers (12 in first class, 28 in business, and 200 in economy), but in July 2014, Etihad replaced it with a Boeing 777–200LR. Now there are fewer economy class seats — only 189, but the business class cabin has grown to 40 seats.