Boeing 777 serves unexpected short-haul routes in global airline operations

In 2025, the Boeing 777, typically associated with long-haul flights, is being utilized on some of the shortest routes globally. According to data from Cirium, British Airways operates the shortest scheduled route using a Boeing 777 between St. Kitts and Antigua, covering just 54.7 nautical miles. Other short routes include Qatar Airways' Doha to Bahrain at 79.1 nautical miles and Biman Bangladesh Airlines' Sylhet to Dhaka at 104.3 nautical miles.

Airlines sometimes deploy the Boeing 777 on these shorter routes due to various operational needs such as fleet availability, seasonal travel demands, or premium passenger requirements. "Fleet availability: If an airline has more Boeing 777s than narrowbodies at a certain hub, it's easier to schedule them for short routes during idle periods," one explanation reads.

Qatar Airways uses the aircraft within its Gulf region network for feeder flights that consolidate passengers onto longer journeys. Similarly, China Eastern Airlines and All Nippon Airways use the aircraft domestically in response to high demand or limited airport slots.