{"id":115614,"date":"2025-10-05T20:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-05T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=115614"},"modified":"2025-10-05T19:45:19","modified_gmt":"2025-10-05T14:15:19","slug":"singapore-airlines-loses-crown-of-longest-flight-in-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2025\/10\/05\/singapore-airlines-loses-crown-of-longest-flight-in-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Singapore Airlines Loses its Crown of Longest Flight in the World"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

SINGAPORE-<\/strong> Xiamen Air (MF) has overtaken Singapore Airlines (SQ)<\/a> as the operator of the longest nonstop passenger flight in the world. The carrier\u2019s service from New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC) is now blocked at 19 hours and 20 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The route, originally launched in 2017 and relaunched in 2024, reaches this record-breaking duration partly due to its flight path avoiding Russian airspace. According to Simple Flying<\/a>, this block time surpasses all other currently scheduled passenger flights worldwide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Xiamen
Photo: Cl\u00e9ment Alloing<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Xiamen Air Now Operates World\u2019s Longest Flight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Singapore Airlines has long dominated the ultra-long-haul segment with its Singapore (SIN) to Newark (EWR) and New York JFK<\/a> routes, Xiamen Air\u2019s return to the transpacific scene has shifted the rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The airline\u2019s JFK\u2013Fuzhou service operates twice weekly using a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner<\/a>, with the westbound journey clocking in at 19h 20m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Block time\u2014defined as the duration from chocks-off to chocks-on\u2014captures the complete operational length of a flight, including taxiing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For context, Singapore Airlines\u2019 Newark\u2013Singapore service registers 19h 10m, and its JFK\u2013Singapore leg reaches 18h 55m. Other major ultra-long routes include Philippine Airlines\u2019 JFK\u2013Manila (MNL) at 18h 20m and Air New Zealand\u2019s JFK\u2013Auckland (AKL) at 18h 10m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The difference lies in geography and geopolitics. Xiamen Air must route south of Russia due to ongoing airspace restrictions, significantly extending flight time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By contrast, carriers like Air China (CA), China Eastern (MU), and China Southern (CZ) still transit over Russia, shaving off hours from comparable routes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Singapore
Photo: Airbus<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Route and Its Passenger Market<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Xiamen Air\u2019s JFK\u2013Fuzhou flights operate on Mondays and Fridays, departing New York at 12:55 and landing in Fuzhou at 21:15 the following day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The return journey leaves Fuzhou at 09:20 and arrives in New York at 10:55 on the same day, taking 14h 35m eastbound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The demand for this route is driven by deep cultural and family connections. The Fuzhou\u2013New York market carries around 160,000 round-trip passengers annually, making it one of the busiest China\u2013US flows outside of Shanghai (195,000 passengers) and Beijing (140,000).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New York\u2019s Chinatown even includes a \u201cLittle Fuzhou,\u201d reflecting the strong diaspora links that sustain this service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comparing Ultra-Long-Haul Contenders<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Qantas (QF)<\/a> continues to operate several of the world\u2019s longest nonstop flights, including Dallas\u2013Melbourne (17h 40m), Perth\u2013London Heathrow (17h 40m), and Perth\u2013Paris Charles de Gaulle (17h 35m).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

United Airlines (UA) also flies Houston\u2013Sydney (17h 35m) and San Francisco\u2013Singapore (17h 40m). Despite these lengthy operations, none exceed the 19-hour mark set by Xiamen Air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This makes the JFK\u2013Fuzhou route an outlier\u2014not because of sheer distance, but due to the added airspace limitations that elongate its journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo: By Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia – China Eastern Airlines, B-2021, Boeing 777-39P ER, CC BY-SA 2.0, https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/w\/index.php?curid=67096372<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Longest One-Stop Service<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Beyond nonstop operations, China Eastern Airlines (MU) is set to launch one of the world\u2019s longest one-stop services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Starting December 4, 2025, it will operate Shanghai Pudong (PVG) to Buenos Aires (EZE) via Auckland (AKL) using a Boeing 777-300ER.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The return leg from Argentina to China will reach up to 29 hours block time, departing Buenos Aires at 02:00 and arriving in Shanghai at 18:00 the following day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Join us on\u00a0Telegram Group\u00a0<\/a>for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on\u00a0Google News<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Longest Flight in the World with A350 Does Not Have First Class, Really?<\/a><\/blockquote>