Summary

  • When non-stop block time is considered, the world’s 10 longest narrowbody routes in the peak summer are between 8h 30m and 9h 20m.
  • La Compagnie from Milan and Nice to Newark are joint first, influenced by having just 72 lie-flat beds.
  • United has three routes blocked at a max of 8h 40m.

The all-important third quarter (July-September) is upon us. Being the peak summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is when northern airlines make the most of their money – or at least should. It’s a vital period to build up their financial war chest to help them through the ever-challenging winter.

Examining Cirium data for these three months shows that narrowbodies – of any type – will operate approximately one in 15 long-haul flights, defined here as covering 2,600 nautical miles (4,815 km) or more. As this article focuses on non-stop services, all routes with stops are excluded. They include Neos’ newly introduced Boeing 737 MAX 8 service between Milan Bergamo and Amristar via Aktau.

World’s 10 longest narrowbody routes

The following table summarizes them. While I usually use distance as the measurement, block or scheduled time is used today. This is based on the maximum time from July to September in either direction. The order would differ somewhat based on distance, and different routes would feature in the winter.

la-compagnie-Airbus-A321-neo

Photo: La Compagnie

The all-business-class operator, La Compagnie, leads the table in time and distance. Given that the premium transatlantic carrier only has 72-seat Airbus A321LRs, readers might conclude that it’s unfair compared to those routes and operators with regularly configured equipment.

Max. block time; either direction

Nautical miles (km); Great Circle only

Non-stop airport pair

Comments about July-September; narrowbodies only

9h 20m

3,485 (6,453)

Milan Malpensa-Newark

La Compagnie A321LR

9h 20m

3,482 (6,448)

Nice-Newark

La Compagnie A321LR

9h 00m

3,351 (6,206)

Copenhagen-New York JFK

SAS A321LR

8h 45m

3,419 (6,331)

Stockholm Arlanda-Toronto

SAS A321LR

8h 40m

3,395 (6,288)

Copenhagen-Toronto

SAS A321LR

8h 40m

3,192 (5,912)

Chicago O’Hare-Dublin

United 757-200ER

8h 40m

3,195 (5,916)

Newark-Malaga

United 757-200ER

8h 40m

3,415 (6,324)

Newark-Stockholm Arlanda

United 757-200ER

8h 35m

3,318 (6,145)

Montreal-Nice

Air Transat A321LR

8h 30m

3,283 (6,079)

Brasília-Orlando

Gol 737 MAX 8

What about these Air Transat routes?

Some readers might wonder about Air Transat between Montreal and Lima (3,443 nautical miles, 6,376 km) and Toronto and Lima (3,333 nautical miles, 6,173 km). After all, they cover more distance than some routes mentioned in the table.

An Air Transat A321 landing in Toronto

Photo: sockagphoto | Shutterstock

As is sometimes the case, things aren’t quite as they appear. As shown below, the max block time to Peru is as high as 10h 15m (10h from Toronto). They are absurdly long. According to Flightradar24, both routes have recently stopped in Montego Bay or Punta Cana to refuel, which explains the longer block.

When they flew nonstop, the flight time was often 7h 30m to 8h 00m – far shorter than the block time. Given that the 10h+ reflects the stopover, it would be unfair to include them as they are not non-stop, even if it is just a tech stop. From August, both routes appear to ditch the stop, with the max block time reduced to 8h 25m – just short of being included.

TS YUL-LIM

Image: Air Transat

What about Estelar and XiamenAir?

Then there’s Venezuela’s Estelar, which operates between Caracas and Santiago de Chile. Due to sanctions, it deploys the 737-400, a blast from the past. It has one active 737-400 (registered YV657T), which is 31.8 years old. While the route is blocked at up to 9h 30m, it stops en route to refuel in Lima. Like Air Transat’s Peruvian examples, it also doesn’t count here.

Estelar 737-400

Photo: Estelar

XiamenAir will introduce Xiamen-Malé flights on July 30 using the 737-800. While its booking engine says “non-stop,” the flight is blocked at a max of 8h 55m on the 737-800. As a stop en route to refuel will be inevitable, this new service is also excluded.

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