Which US ‘Big Three’ Airline Has The Most 8,000+ Mile Flights This November?

Flights more than 8,000 miles in length most definitely fall into the ‘ultra-long-haul’ category. The longest commercial flight in the world is currently operated by Singapore Airlines between Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), coming in at a total of 9,537 miles in length.

Other worldwide carriers to operate ultra-long-haul flights include Qatar Airways, Qantas, and Air New Zealand. However, the US Big Three airlines (the collective name given to the country’s largest carriers – American Airlines
, Delta Air Lines
, and United Airlines
) also operate a number of routes longer than 8,000 miles.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Using data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, which of the US Big Three airlines will operate the most 8,000+ mile flights in November 2024?

American Airlines

Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Brisbane (BNE)

In November 2024, American Airlines will operate

24 direct flights each way between its hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Brisbane Airport (BNE)
in Australia. The carrier deploys its Boeing 787-9s on the route, which is a total of 8,299 miles in length.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying 

American Airlines does not face any direct competition on its Dallas/Fort Worth to Brisbane service, although a number of one-stop options are available with the likes of:

• Qantas via Sydney (SYD)
• Korean Air via Seoul Incheon (ICN)
• Air Canada via Vancouver (YVR).

United Airlines flies to Brisbane from its transpacific hub at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The Australian city will also see its US services expand further in December 2024, when Delta Air Lines will begin direct flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

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Delta Air Lines

Atlanta (ATL) – Cape Town (CPT)

Delta Air Lines will operate a total of 13 flights in each direction between its primary hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
(ATL) and Cape Town International Airport (CPT) in South Africa.

The carrier deploys its Airbus A350-900s on the route, covering a distance of 8,127 miles. The latest data from ch-aviation shows that Delta Air Lines currently has a total of 33 A350-900s in its fleet, with a further 11 still on order. The aircraft have an average age of 5 years old, and each one is capable of carrying up to 339 passengers in a two-class configuration or 306 passengers in a three-class configuration.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

When it comes to direct competition, Delta Air Lines does not face any on its service to Cape Town. However, United Airlines also connects the South African city with its East Coast hubs at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD).

Atlanta (ATL) – Johannesburg (JNB)

Another of Delta Air Lines’ 8,000+ mile routes is also to South Africa. The SkyTeam member will operate 30 flights each way between Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and Johannesburg’s O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB).

Photo: Viper Zero | Shutterstock

The route covers a distance of 8,433 miles, making it the third-longest route to feature in this list. Just as with its route to Cape Town, Delta Air Lines also deploys its Airbus A350-900s on the daily service. American Airlines does not fly to Johannesburg, while United Airlines serves the city from its hub at Newark Liberty International Airport
(EWR).

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United Airlines

San Francisco (SFO) – Singapore (SIN)

From its transpacific hub at San Francisco International Airport
(SFO), United Airlines operates a double-daily service on the 8,440-mile route to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN). This equates to a total of 60 flights in each direction in November 2024.

United Airlines operates the route with its Boeing 787-9s, of which there are currently a total of 38 in its fleet, with an average age of 7 years old. This sub-fleet is expected to grow exponentially over the coming years, with a staggering 150 787-9s still on order, awaiting delivery from the US manufacturer.

Photo: Kevin Hackert | Shutterstock

Each of the carrier’s Boeing 787-9s can accommodate up to 257 passengers in a three-class configuration:

• 48 in business class
• 21 in premium economy
• 188 in economy class.

Fellow Star Alliance member Singapore Airlines also operates two daily services between its hub at Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), deploying its Airbus A350-900s on the route.

Houston (IAH) – Sydney (SYD)

The longest route on this list comes in at 8,587 miles long, and is between Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport
(IAH) and Sydney Airport (SYD) in Australia. In November 2024, United Airlines will operate 13 flights in each direction with its fleet of Boeing 787-9s.

Photo: Kevin Hackert | Shutterstock

The westbound sector has a total block time of 17 hours and 35 minutes, while the eastbound leg comes in at 15 hours 35 minutes, meaning a significant difference of two hours in the length of the flight depending on the direction of travel. United Airlines does not face any direct competition on its Houston – Sydney route. Qantas also connects Sydney to Texas, operating instead to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), offering a wide range of connections through its oneworld partner, American Airlines.

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Of the US Big Three carriers, United Airlines operates the most flights greater than 8,000 miles in length in November 2024. All five 8,000+ mile routes featured in this list are summarized in the table below: