MUMBAI- Ever wondered about India’s longest non-stop flights in terms of distance? Well, Bangalore International Airport (BLR) stands out on this list, securing the leading position with Air India’s BLR- San Francisco (SFO) flight claiming the title of the longest flight!
Unsurprisingly, India’s connections to North America take center stage, with 9 destinations in the United States (US) and 1 in Canada.
10 Longest Non-stop Flights of India
Let us quickly get into it in descending order from Top 10 to Top 1.
10) Delhi-Toronto Route
The Delhi-Toronto (YYZ) route is around 11,661 Kilometers (7245.80 Miles). Two Star Alliance carriers serve the sector: one is Air India, and another is Air Canada (AC).
Air India operates daily flight AI187 from Delhi to Toronto and AI188 YYZ-DEL with its Boeing 777-300ERs. The Indian carrier takes around 15 hrs and 20 minutes to serve this sector, but according to FlightRadar24 (FR24) data, the average time for this route is 14 hours.
Subsequently, Air Canada operates daily flight AC42 from YYZ to DEL and AC43 from Delhi to Toronto but with Boeing 777-200LRs and sometimes with 777-300ERs. The Canadian flag carrier takes around 16 hrs and 45 minutes. FR24 gives an average time of around 16 hours.
9) Delhi-New York Route
The Delhi-New York (JFK) sector is around 11,776 Km (7317.26 Miles). The Air India and American Airlines (AA) serve this route.
Air India operates four weekly flights, AI105 and AI106 (return), with 777-300ERs and LRs. It takes around 15 hrs and 20 minutes to serve this route. FR24 gives the average time of around 14 hours and 30 minutes.
American Airlines operates daily flights as AA292 from JFK to DEL and AA293 from Delhi to New York JFK with Boeing 777-300ERs. According to Cirium data, the Fort Worth-based carrier takes around 16 hrs and 55 minutes to serve the route. However, FR24 gives an average time of 16 hrs.
8) Delhi-Newark Route
The Delhi-Newark (EWR) route is 11,785 Km (7322.85 Miles) apart, a marginal difference from DEL-JFK. Again, Star Alliance carriers, United Airlines (UA), and Air India serve the popular sector.
United Airlines operates two daily flights, UA816 with 817 return and UA82 and UA83 return with the help of Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. The Chicago-based carrier takes around 16 hrs and 55 minutes to complete the journey. FR24 suggests that, on average, United takes 16 hrs and 20 minutes.
Likewise, Air India operates double daily as AI105 with AI106 return and AI101 with AI102 return flight with 777-300ERs and -200LRs. The Tata owned carrier takes roughly 15 hrs and 30 minutes to serve this eighth-longest non-stop route. While FR24 gives an average duration of 14 hrs and 20 minutes.
The data also shares the insight that the Boeing 777 is faster than the 787-9 despite carrying significantly fewer passengers. Let’s move on to the Top 7 routes; all these are served exclusively by Air India, which means there is no competitor carrier.
7) Delhi-Chicago Route
The Delhi-Chicago (ORD) Route is 12,043 Kilometers (7483 Miles) apart, and Air India operates daily flights as AI127 with AI126 as a return with 777-300ERs. Further, the airline takes around 15 hrs and 25 mins to serve the route. But as usual, it’s around 15 hrs, as reported by FR24.
6) Delhi-Washington Route
The Delhi-Washington (IAD) sector is around 12,078 Km apart, and Air India operates five weekly flights as AI103 and returns as AI104 with its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners (replaced by Boeing 777-200LR from November 15, 2024). It takes around 15 hrs and 50 mins to serve the route. Subsequently, FR24 suggests it takes an average of 15 hrs to complete the journey.
5) Delhi-San Francisco Route
The Delhi-San Francisco Route is 12,402 Km, i.e. roughly 7707 Miles apart. Air India operates one daily and one four-weekly flight, in total 11 weekly flights. AI173 DEL-SFO, AI184 SFO-DEL (daily), while AI183 DEL-SFO and AI184 SFO-DEL (4X weekly).
The airline takes around 15 hrs and 30 minutes to serve the route with Boeing 777-200LR, which it has taken on lease and was earlier operated by Delta Air Lines (DL). FR24 data shows the average duration of 16 hrs.
4) Mumbai-New York Route
The Mumbai (BOM)-New York Route is 12,548 Km apart, and Air India operates one daily flight, AI119 BOM-JFK, and returns as AI116 with 777-300ERs and -200LRs. It takes 15 hrs and 40 minutes to complete the journey. FR24 shows around 16 hrs.
Finally, we have the top 3 longest routes originating from India.
3) Mumbai-Newark Route
The Mumbai-Newark Route is 12,563 km apart, and Air India operates three weekly flights as AI191 BOM-EWR and AI144 as EWR-BOM with 777-300ER. It takes around 15 hrs and 45 minutes non-stop flying to serve the sector. FR24 data agrees with the Cirium data.
2) Mumbai-San Francisco Route
The Mumbai-San Francisco Route is 13,520 Km (8,400 Miles) apart, and Air India operates 4X weekly flights as AI179 BOM-SFO and AI180 SFO-BOM with 777-200LRs.
It takes around 16 hrs to complete the journey. FR24 data shows that it is more than that, and it actually takes 16 hrs and 30 minutes on average.
1) Bengaluru-San Francisco Route
Finally, we have the longest flight, and it’s Bengaluru-San Francisco, the route that connects US Silicon Valley with Indian Silicon Valley. Further, it is the ninth longest route in the world.
The BLR-SFO route is 13,987 Kilometers apart, almost 14,000 (around 8700 Miles), and Air India operates 3X weekly flights as AI176 BLR-SFO and AI177 SFO-BLR. The Indian carrier takes 15 hrs and 55 minutes, but FR24 says it requires an average of 17 hrs and 30 minutes to complete the journey.
As an avgeek, I would love to be on this flight, but it’s stressful for normal passengers, especially with poor interiors and broken seats. However, Air India is refurbishing its fleet with new seats and interiors, and travelers can have a better experience.
Bottom Line
This concludes our list and Air India is the exclusive Indian operator on all of India’s ten longest routes, holding the sole responsibility for seven of them.
Joining the limelight are United Airlines (UA), American Airlines (AA), and Air Canada (AC), each with their respective routes connecting Delhi International Airport (DEL) to EWR, JFK, and YYZ.
American Airlines earlier planned to launch Seattle-Bengaluru flights, however, due to the Russia-Ukraine war, they cannot make it. Similarly, United planned the SFO-BLR launch but eventually dropped it for obvious reasons (war). Instead, it added a second EWR-DEL Flight.
This year, we expect that Air India will launch more flights to American cities as it expects to take delivery of more A350-900s.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News.
