Cathay Pacific will operate world’s longest commercial flight

The distinction currently belongs to Singapore Airlines’ Singapore-New York route

Hong Kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific will operate the longest flight in the world from Hong Kong to New York from 3 April 2022.

The extended flight time is a result of safety precautions that involve avoiding airspace impacted by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

The airline’s Hong Kong to New York route is operated on an Airbus A350 and crosses both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

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Although the Singapore Airlines service from Singapore to New York is still longer at 17 and a half hours, it covers a distance of 15,349km whereas Cathay Pacific’s new route is longer at 16,618km with a flight time of 17 hours increased from 15.

Speaking about the adapted route, a Cathay Pacific spokesperson said: “We are always running contingency routings for potential events or scenarios. The transatlantic option relies on the facilitation of strong seasonal tailwinds at this time of the year in order for the flight time to be between 16 and 17 hours, thereby making it more favourable than the Transpacific route.”

For bookings and more information, visit www.cathaypacific.com