Quantcast

Boeing Dreamliner often flies shorter routes despite long-haul capabilities

Exclusive: Turkey's surprise Air Europa deal came down to one key thing: control
Major airline launches exciting new route from Scotland to popular US location
Airlines fear carbon tax as flagship climate scheme develops holes
Ryanair scraps three Vienna routes, demands lower taxes and fees
Turkish Airlines has no intention of raising stake in Spain's Air Europa, chairman says
US lawmakers want Trump to reinstate delay compensation plan for air travelers
IATA pushes to raise international pilot retirement age to 67
US orders Delta and Aeromexico to dissolve their partnership over fairness concerns in Mexico
Southwest’s New Wheelchair Policy Will Require Passengers to Remove 1 Item Before Boarding — What to Know
Aviation expansion: IndiGo to start direct Mumbai-Copenhagen flights from Oct 8; marks entry into Nordics - The Times of India
Major change for ALL Aer Lingus passengers flying from busy airport to offer 'modern and streamlined' experience
Southwest Airlines adds Sonoma County in California expansion - The Points Guy
Routes & Networks Latest: Rolling Daily Updates (W/C Sept. 8, 2025)
Delta Sees Record Premium Seats in '26, Main Cabin Flat or Down
Southwest requiring removal of batteries from mobility devices before boarding
Qantas’ milestone move for huge, new planes
EasyJet to launch 11 new flight routes from small UK airport named the best in Europe
Tycoon unveils £25 billion rival Heathrow expansion plan
Boeing and Airbus ground green plane projects
50 New Routes Launching In September 2025
JetBlue's Network Shake-Up: Its Top 10 Routes This Month
Proposals for commercial planes to operate with one pilot shelved after critical EU report
Air Travel Fatalities Up 300% in 2024, According to Shocking Global Report
Aviation sector faces steeper losses in FY26; passenger growth slows amid headwinds: ICRA - The Times of India
Boeing Halts Strike Talks Amid $36 Billion Deal & Union Dispute
FAA’s Broader Runway Safety Push Builds on EMAS Legacy
Ryanair CEO says aviation sustainability targets are 'dying a death'
US FAA funds system to prevent accidents involving runaway airplanes
Exclusive: Korean Air makes airline's biggest-ever Boeing jet order amid Trump-Lee summit
Boeing Stock Jumps on Massive Korean Air Order
Boeing Dreamliner often flies shorter routes despite long-haul capabilities
Policy
Webp 5r3vc2svdh8ibaxk8gr8iutw0za2
Simple Flying | Simple Flying

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner, initially introduced as the 7E7 in January 2003, was projected to carry between 200 and 250 passengers over distances ranging from 7,000 to 8,000 nautical miles upon its entry into service in 2008. Despite this capability, the aircraft's average stage length has been notably shorter.

According to Cirium data for November schedules, airlines operated Boeing 787 flights with an average stage length of just 2,820 nautical miles. The longest average distance reported by an airline was Qantas at 6,109 nautical miles. Conversely, Shanghai Airlines recorded the shortest at merely 1,367 nautical miles.

Shanghai Airlines scheduled multiple weekly flights using the Boeing 787 within China. One of their briefest routes is from Ningbo Lishe International Airport to Shanghai Pudong International Airport at a distance of only about 80.9 nautical miles.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Japan’s domestic network also contributes to the shorter average stage lengths for the Boeing aircraft. All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines operate numerous domestic flights with the Dreamliner. In November alone, these two carriers scheduled nearly a thousand weekly departures within Japan on this aircraft type.

Globally in November, out of approximately 14,095 total weekly flights utilizing the Boeing 787s:

- Over half were under or around mid-range distances.

- About one-fifth were between zero and two thousand nautical miles.

- A small percentage exceeded six thousand nautical miles.

These figures illustrate that while capable of long-haul journeys—such as Qantas' Perth to London route—the Boeing model frequently services shorter distances due in part to specific operational needs within regional networks like those found in Japan and parts of China.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has announced that its Wings of Change Europe (WOCE) event will take place at the Steigenberger Icon Wiltcher's Hotel in Brussels.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines has announced a new partnership with Crunchyroll, the global anime streaming platform, to bring a curated selection of anime content to its flights.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines has been recognized as one of the 2025 Fortune Best Workplaces for Women, marking its return to the list since 2019.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines marked its 100th anniversary by serving as the official airline of the 60th Head of the Charles Regatta (HOCR) in Boston.

Oct 23, 2025

American Airlines has announced that it will upgrade its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with new Flagship Suites, the airline's latest business-class product.

Oct 23, 2025

Delta Air Lines will introduce a new in-flight dining partnership with Chef José Andrés, bringing Spanish-inspired cuisine to select cabins starting November 4.

Oct 23, 2025