While long-haul flights on wide-body planes have been common for years, more and more airlines are pushing the limits of what is possible with narrow-body aircraft. Currently, the Airbus A321neo, primarily the LR and the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft are used widely to operate long-haul narrow-body flights.
Long-haul narrow-body flights cost less per trip than widebody planes, making them attractive to airlines. They can operate from secondary or tertiary cities where demand is limited, to expand route networks. With a smaller size, they consume less fuel and are easier to fill during low seasons.
Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) Flight SK925 from Copenhagen to Washington is currently the World’s longest non-stop narrow-body flight, lasting around 9 hours and 30 minutes. This flight is operated by an Airbus A321neo aircraft.
In this post, we share the World’s longest non-stop flights operated by narrow-body aircraft.
The 10 Longest Narrow-body Flights in the World in 2023
*Note that all routes are ranked by “great circle” distance. Flights are on a non-stop basis.
1. Copenhagen, Denmark to Washington, USA, Flight SK925
Airline: SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Flight Distance: 6556 km (3540 NMI)
Flight Time: 9 Hours, 30 Minutes
Aircraft: Airbus A321neo (A321LR)
2. Male, Maldives to Moscow, Russia, Flight ZF708
Airline: Azur Airlines
Flight Distance: 6550 km (3536 NMI)
Flight Time: 9 Hours, 30 Minutes
Aircraft: Boeing 757-200
3. Milan, Italy to Newark, USA, Flight BO300
Airline: La Compagnie
Flight Distance: 6453 km (3484 NMI)
Flight Time: 9 Hours, 20 Minutes
Aircraft: Airbus A321neo (A321LR)
4. Stockholm, Sweden to Newark, USA, Flight SK903
Airline: SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Flight Distance: 6324 km (3415 NMI)
Flight Time: 8 Hours, 50 Minutes
Aircraft: Airbus A321neo (A321LR)
5. Melbourne, Australia to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Flight OD174
Airline: Batik Air
Flight Distance: 6303 km (3403 NMI)
Flight Time: 8 Hours, 35 Minutes
Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8
6. Copenhagen, Denmark to New York JFK, USA, Flight SK919
Airline: SAS Scandinavian Airlines
Flight Distance: 6204 km (3350 NMI)
Flight Time: 9 Hours, 5 Minutes
Aircraft: Airbus A321neo (A321LR)
7. Sal, Cape Verde to Helsinki, Finland, Flight 6B528
Airline: TUI Fly
Flight Distance: 6158 km (3325 NMI)
Flight Time: 7 Hours, 50 Minutes
Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8
8. Brasília, Brazil to Orlando, USA, Flight G37602
Airline: GOL Linhas Aereas
Flight Distance: 6080 km (3283 NMI)
Flight Time: 7 Hours, 55 Minutes
Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8
9. Buenos Aires, Argentina to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Flight AR1324/1326
Airline: Aerolineas Argentinas
Flight Distance: 5999 km (3239 NMI)
Flight Time: 7 Hours, 30 Minutes
Aircraft: Boeing 737 MAX 8
10. Lisbon, Portugal to Belém, Brazil, Flight TP47
Airline: Tap Air Portugal
Flight Distance: 5996 km (3238 NMI)
Flight Time: 7 Hours, 55 Minutes
Aircraft: Airbus A321neo (A321LR)
In the near future, the addition of the Airbus A321XLR will further boost the operation of long-haul narrow-body flights, breaking all current records for any narrow-body aircraft.
A Disadvantage to Passengers?
Even though long-haul narrow-body flights save time as a direct flight without connecting at major hub airports, the single-aisle aircraft takes longer to board, and may not have as much space as a widebody airplane. The foot traffic on the single-aisle may be bothersome as most toilets are at the rear of the aircraft.
Narrowbody also flies at a slower speed, a disadvantage, especially with strong headwind scenarios (Westbound Transatlantic).
Have you ever flown on one of these flights mentioned above? What was your longest narrow-body flight? Let us know in the comments below.
Video
Sources: Cirium SRS Analyser, GC Map
About 12 years ago I was scheduled to fly from London to Houston on United. There were a lot of problems with weather in a lot of places. My flight was cancelled and United said the fastest way back to Houston was to put me onto Delta to St Louis. Fine with me, I figured customs wouldn’t be bad at a small airport. I was really surprised that the flight was on a 757-200. That’s about as far as a 757 could fly. I’d never flown a narrow body plane across the ocean! Weird experience.
Vistara started UK145 started Delhi to Bali on A321Neo, recently flew this flight it was a nightmare to be in narrow body for that long. Though, Vistara did all its best to make it comfortable.
Icelandair also flies some pretty long routes with their MAX’s. KEF-MCO is 3,354 mi for example
I flew 6 1/2 hrs in the back of an American A321ceo CLT-SFO (in the middle seat!) that was miserable. wouldn’t do it again
In this century’s first decade a number of airlines were offering business class only long-haul flights on narrow-body airplanes. I was fortunate to enjoy flights on BA1, a 32-seat (if I recall correctly) A318 flying LCY-SNN-JFK. Cleverly marketed as a quick way from London to New York, it departed from London’s convenient City Airport, stopped for fuel and US preclearance in Shannon, then arrived JFK as a domestic flight. SNN to JFK was 7h 30m. Another flight I enjoyed was Lufthansa from MUC to EWR on a 737-BBJ operated by PrivatAir at 9h 15m. Such services were also operated from Europe to central Asia and Africa.
I really have to laugh at this. Try flying on a DC-8-63 From Dallas to Rome non- stop with 250 other passengers. Or a 707 from London to San Francisco non stop on a 707. In the middle seat. Charters. I wonder how people would react to this today. And we loved it!! It was faster than a DC-7 or a Connie. I miss those wonderful jet Machines. Now that was flying! And we had a blast.
TK567 IST-ZNZ (8 hrs 5′) and TK605 ZNZ-IST (8 hrs 15′!), both on a B737-8 MAX: I wonder what this is going to be like…
ORD-DUB on an AA 757 about 15 years ago. I was in a Coach exit row seat and it was fine. I miss the 757.
I was the captain on one of the mentioned flights last week and it is a way too long flight for a narrow body aircraft.
I am surprised there are no mentions of Azores Airlines which have as per my understanding the longest flight on A321LR. Maybe it is not a recurring flight for their Azores to USA.
Flew CPH-TOR on SAS A321neo. Felt weird to make that distance in a small plane. Also the feeling of space is lacking onboard as is the feeling that toilets are always easily full. I prefer larger planes by far for long range.
Above 4 hours more comfortable with widebody aircraft
EWR to OPO on Air Portugal,
Fantastic flight , will don it again .
Have flown several of the routes mentioned and without exception they are uncomfortable for passengers for reasons already stated, plus seat belt sign switched on 90% of the time
Flew Panamá City (PTY) to Los Angeles (LAX) on a Copa Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9, a 7-hour flight on a narrowbody…glad we got premium seats for some more comfort, otherwise it would have been endless…
Great article! Very interesting.
I have to say as a coach flyer I cringe at the idea of spending any more time in a narrowbody than 5-6 hours. Then again, if the price is right and it spares me a connection, you never know what I might be willing to endure!
Flew twice Lisbon – New York with TAP-321LR in BC. I was pleasantly surprised.
SIN-CNS on SQ’s 737 MAX 8
Flew mxp to Ewr. La Compagnie is all biz class, 76 lie flat seats. Not an issue
The new NEO’s and 321’s, etc. are all great but hard to beat the old 757’s for this sort of work.
Agreed. There weren’t even any 757s on the list. End of an era.
We recently flew Westjet from Edmonton to Honolulu with strong heads winds and it took 7 hrs 15 min. Way too long on a 737-8 Max. The isles are so small and seats not designed for long haul flights. The comfort does not compare to last year’s flight from Vancouver to Honolulu on an Air Canada 787-9.