Qantas leads innovation as ultra-long-haul flights expand with new aircraft

Qatar Airways' Auckland–Doha service ranks third at 14,526 kilometers after being reintroduced in 2024. Qantas operates several long-haul routes as well: Perth–London Heathrow covers 14,499 kilometers; Dallas Fort Worth–Melbourne spans 14,468 kilometers; and Paris Charles de Gaulle–Perth reaches 14,265 kilometers.

Other notable routes include Air New Zealand’s Auckland–New York service (joined by Qantas in 2023), Emirates’ Auckland–Dubai flight using an Airbus A350, China Southern’s Shenzhen–Mexico City link—which requires a stop on return trips due to Mexico City's altitude—and another Singapore Airlines connection from Los Angeles to Singapore Changi.

Looking ahead, Qantas plans to launch Project Sunrise in mid-2027 with non-stop services from Sydney and Melbourne to both New York City and London. If successful, these will become the world’s longest non-stop commercial flights. The airline intends to use specially configured Airbus A350-1000s with only 238 seats—the lowest density for this model globally—and about 40% of those seats will be premium cabins aimed at improving comfort on journeys exceeding 20 hours.

"Nothing illustrates the advances in aviation technology and fuel efficiency better than the fact that nine of the world’s ten longest flights are now operated by twin-engine aircraft. As recently as a decade ago, many of these routes would have been either impossible or reliant on four-engine jets like the Airbus A380. While the A380 still features on long-haul networks, today’s ultra-long-haul routes exist largely thanks to new-generation aircraft such as the Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which combine extended range with improved fuel efficiency and passenger comfort."