Longest 747 Flight In The World?

boeingforever · Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:14 am

just wondering what the worlds longest scheduled passenger 747 flight is. I think it was United HKG-JFK non stop, but that ended...could it be CX LAX-HKG. i flew that once..15 hours 40 minutes..(do they even use the 747 on that anymore?)

United_fan · Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:20 am

ORD-HKG 7,794 Miles. That's a long one .

N1120A · Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:25 am

Quoting BoeingForEver (Thread starter):
..(do they even use the 747 on that anymore?)

Yes. They use 2 a day in fact

airbazar · Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:27 am

LAX-SYD is probably one of the longest ones, both in distance and in time.

zonky · Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:42 am

Non-Stop or Direct with one flight no?

jtamu97 · Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:43 am

SAA used to operate the 747-400 from ATL-CPT non stop. That was a fairly long fight as well.

From To Distance
ATL (33°38'26"N 84°25'37"W) CPT (33°57'53"S 18°36'06"E) 8130 mi

United Airline · Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:45 am

Quoting BoeingForEver (Thread starter):

Then why did you quote United's service between HKG and JFK at the very first place?

LAX-MEL is one of them. Also ORD-HKG

zvezda · Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:47 am

I don't think UA ever flew JFK-HKG.

UN_B732 · Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:49 am

Does South African still fly JFK-CPT or do they make a stop?
JFK-CPT non-stop comes out to be 7797miles, 3 miles longer than ORD-HKG and about 300 miles longer than LAX-SYD.

boeingforever · Fri Apr 15, 2005 12:51 am

Quoting Zvezda (Reply 10):
I don't think UA ever flew JFK-HKG.

they did..didnt last.

Quoting Lemurs (Reply 6):
Shame you had to take what seemed like a legit (and interesting) question and turn it into another bashing joke. Too much of that stuff here all ready. Are you interested in the answer to the Q, or are you just looking for an aribtrary answer that suits your tastes? Yeah sure

sorry about that. i couldnt help myself. im really interestd in knowing the answer. everyone has an opinion. does anyone know the definite answer

Lemurs · Fri Apr 15, 2005 1:02 am

Quoting BoeingForEver (Reply 12):
sorry about that. i couldnt help myself. im really interestd in knowing the answer. everyone has an opinion. does anyone know the definite answer

Yeah, I don't begrudge anyone their opinion. I just hate seeing interesting threads get derailed before the question really get answered. It's unusual to see someone potentially sabotage their own thread though, I will admit. Smile

AF022 · Fri Apr 15, 2005 2:00 am

longest 747-400 flights:

MELLAX, QF, 7924 miles
ORDHKG, UA, 7770 miles
SYDLAX, QF/UA, 7491 miles
SYDSFO, UA, 7421 miles
MNLLAX, PR, 7291 miles
HKGLAX, CX, 7230 miles
BNELAX, QF, 7166 miles
ICNATL, KE, 7138 miles

TGV · Fri Apr 15, 2005 2:52 am

Another one in the top ten list I suppose, the TPE-CDG by EVA Air, as they can not fly over Mainland China.

So they have a southern route, passing over DAD, BKK, LHE, OTP and CDG : 7524 miles according to great circle mapper.

And a northern route along Japan, passing VVO, and staying over Russia until LED: some 200 miles less than the previous route.

Depending on the weather they use one or the other route.

LPLAspotter · Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:45 am

Interesting routes. I took an LH 744 nonstop from MNL to FRA which was an all nightime flight. We left 24 late since due to a technical problem (no complaints - got a suite at the Westin Philippine Plaza) and since some business people got rerouted the plane was almost empty. Total flying time was 13 hours 35 minutes. I thought that was an eterinity until I popped a few ativans and woke up over Warsaw. The only way to fly.

LPLAspotter

UN_B732 · Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:07 am

Was JFK-JNB (7979 miles) Ever operated by the 747-400 or was it always the A340? I believe I saw an SA 747 at JFK at some point in time.
-Mr. X

phollingsworth · Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:20 am

Quoting UN_B732 (Reply 14):
Was JFK-JNB (7979 miles) Ever operated by the 747-400 or was it always the A340? I believe I saw an SA 747 at JFK at some point in time.

I don't remember but SAA did operate ATL-CPT non-stop with a 744 (sometimes there was a technical stop on the CPT-ATL leg). That is 8130 mi (7064nm). Now all flights from ATL are to JNB and are A346 with a stop both ways.

jtamu97 · Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:27 am

As I mentioned earlier SAA did fly non stop from ATL-CPT. JFK was also operated by the 747-400 by SAA. As far as CPT-ATL there was a tech stop in SAL to refuel for about an hour. As far as longest we flew on the same flight number and plane from JNB-CPT-ATL stopping at SAL. We were on the same 747 for nearly 20 hours!!!

[Edited 2005-04-14 22:30:16]

AT502B · Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:28 am

Quoting UN_B732 (Reply 14):
Was JFK-JNB (7979 miles) Ever operated by the 747-400 or was it always the A340? I believe I saw an SA 747 at JFK at some point in time.

Yes all the flights from JFK,MIA and ATL-JNB/CPT,used to be operated by B744. They were non-stop eastbound, and one stop west bound. Those were the days.............

Nowadays all the flights stop both ways.......... Sad

IDAWA · Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:33 am

How do you state the miles of a route so easily? Do you use the Great Circle Mapper ( http://gc2.kls.com )?

I-DAWA

N1120A · Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:43 am

Quoting IDAWA (Reply 18):
How do you state the miles of a route so easily? Do you use the Great Circle Mapper

Yep, that is the best way.

schipholjfk · Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:52 am

Quoting Phollingsworth (Reply 15):
Was JFK-JNB (7979 miles) Ever operated by the 747-400 or was it always the A340? I believe I saw an SA 747 at JFK at some point in time.

SAA did operate this flight with 744 until recently. I loved seeing the 744 in SAA colors parked next to Delta 767s.

777STL · Fri Apr 15, 2005 5:58 am

SYD-LHR would be pretty long but it does require a stop.

Trolley Dolley · Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:37 am

While appreciating the question was after nonstop sectors, the longest 747 flight operated by the same aircraft with the same flight number is the Air New Zealand AKL-LAX-LON service. This is 11968 miles. The JAL SAO-NYC-TYO service is 11511 miles, a close second. These would be the flights to take if you really want to clock up the hours on the jumbo! Sorry, SYD-LON only comes in at 10666 miles via Singapore.

[Edited 2005-04-14 23:39:35]

timz · Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:38 am

Wrong link for the GC Mapper-- it's http://gc.kls2.com.

Reply 14 says JFK-JNB is 7979 miles, the Mapper says 7969. The latter is correct; the Mapper may always be right now. Anybody know of a trip that it still measures wrong?

Longest-ever 744 nonstop was ATL-JNB, 8400+ miles.

N1120A · Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:49 am

Quoting Schipholjfk (Reply 20):
Quoting Phollingsworth (Reply 15):
Was JFK-JNB (7979 miles) Ever operated by the 747-400 or was it always the A340? I believe I saw an SA 747 at JFK at some point in time.

SAA did operate this flight with 744 until recently. I loved seeing the 744 in SAA colors parked next to Delta 767s.

That is done 1 stop in DKR

StevenUhl777 · Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:12 am

I stand corrected...I thought ORD-HKG was the longest, but MEL-LAX by QF takes the prize.

Speaking of ORD-HKG, Bravo7E7 wrote a great trip report on his experiences on this flight, with pictures. Check it out here:

https://www.airliners.net/discussions/trip_reports/read.main/56246/

PIA777 · Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:14 am

"I don't think UA ever flew JFK-HKG"

I think they did EWR-HKG.

PIA777

ContinentalFan · Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:25 am

Quoting PIA777 (Reply 26):
I think they did EWR-HKG.

I think UA started JFK-HKG in response to CO starting EWR-JFK, but UA quickly discontinued the route. It was around the time of 9/11 I think.

fabio777 · Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:28 am

I remember when UA started flying ORD-HKG, they would top off the tanks and "tow" the 747-400 to the runway. On days they expected heavier headwinds, the fuel burned during taxi could make the difference between a non-stop or 1-stop flight.

fabio777

timz · Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:34 am

"I think [UA] did EWR-HKG."

They did EWR-NRT, but I'll bet they never did EWR-HKG. People have said they never flew JFK-HKG either, but FWIW that nonstop was in their timetable for a few months starting in March/April 2001.

ContinentalEWR · Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:38 am

United introduced nonstop 747-400 service from JFK to Hong Kong in April 2001. The route was quickly downgraded to a 777 by July 2001 and in the route was dropped August 30th, 2001. The flight was introduced in reply to Continental inaugurating nonstop EWR-HKG service in March 2001 and the fact that at that time, CX had only a one stop, JFK-YVR-HKG service.

ContinentalEWR

n949wp · Fri Apr 15, 2005 1:16 pm

My understanding is that UA's JFK-HKG-JFK flight stayed with the 744 till the end. A friend of mine was working as a UA customer service rep at the airport at HKG during that period, and he swore that no UA 777 was ever put on that route.

'949

COSPN · Fri Apr 15, 2005 1:24 pm

My understanding is that UA's JFK-HKG-JFK flight stayed with the 744 till the end. A friend of mine was working as a UA customer service rep at the airport at HKG during that period, and he swore that no UA 777 was ever put on that route.

'949

Yes it was pre 9/11 Didnt last long Just trying to mess with CO EWR-HKG I dont think it ever had more than 50% LF...they also flew HKG-DEL Back then..

Leaving a gap for CO to serve EWR-DEL Non-Stop...

From the CO play book...Stick to the Hubs..Stick to Hubs...Stick to the Hubs
UA needs to do that drop everything else...will loose less money

PPVRA · Fri Apr 15, 2005 1:31 pm

Non-stop I don't know, but JAL has a 3X weekly NRT-JFK-GRU... that's VERY long. If RG decieds to fly the 744s they are getting to NGO, then I think this wil become the longest 747 direct fligth in the world.

BTW, just thought of it, how's with MH's fligth to EZE? It's a 747 and it's gotta be really long also.

Cheers,
PVRA

ZK-NBT · Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:34 pm

Quoting PPVRA (Reply 33):
Non-stop I don't know, but JAL has a 3X weekly NRT-JFK-GRU... that's VERY long. If RG decieds to fly the 744s they are getting to NGO, then I think this wil become the longest 747 direct fligth in the world.

NZ001 LHR-LAX-AKL takes 26 hours including a stop in LAX. Beat that!

UA never flew a 772 to HKG, JFK-HKG was a 744 for all of the few months it operated!

welwitschia · Fri Apr 15, 2005 3:41 pm

I have done JHB-Syd a few times on Qantas, although probably not the longest flight but at roughly 14 hrs it still tends to break your back.

sfilipowicz · Fri Apr 15, 2005 6:50 pm

I don't know if it was the longest but it was long for sure.

Once a Qantas 747-400 did London - Melbourne non-stop. But this
without passengers.

ZK-NBT · Fri Apr 15, 2005 7:27 pm

Quoting Sfilipowicz (Reply 36):
Once a Qantas 747-400 did London - Melbourne non-stop. But this
without passengers.

That was LHR-SYD not MEL, VH-OJA on her delivery flight, this was QF's first 744 way back in August 1989. Flight took over 20 hours!

Pretty sure that is still the longest 747 flight ever done.

sfilipowicz · Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:17 pm

Yep your right it was Sydney.
Was that 1989!??! Wow time flies!

aviationwiz · Fri Apr 15, 2005 8:57 pm

Per the Great Circle Mapper, ATL-JNB is 8439 mi, and used to be operated non-stop by SAA using the B744.

QantasHeavy · Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:22 pm

747 SP did Boeing Field to JNB. It was a demo flight to sell (and show off) the plane for launch customers Pan Am and SAA as route proving. Of course, it was empty.

I think this is/was in the "record book". There is a site somewhere with longest / fastest commerical flights. I remember being on a BA 777 from DFW to LGW when they launched the 777 on the route; the crew wanted to beat an AA DC-10 time record (funny that a DC-10 held it, not the MD-11).

IDAWA · Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:35 pm

Quoting Timz (Reply 23):
Wrong link for the GC Mapper-- it's http://gc.kls2.com.

That's right, I failed to check the address before posting it. Sorry about.

I-DAWA

Just_Plane_Mad · Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:41 pm

dont forget Christchurch ,NZ to LAX NZ18

Thrust · Fri Apr 15, 2005 9:55 pm

JFK-NRT is another long another one...as well as SFO-FRA.

dsa · Fri Apr 15, 2005 11:48 pm

The longest commercial flight is LAX - SYD as stated by the world record book this route it run by a 747

pa201 · Sat Apr 16, 2005 12:09 am

Not sure what the world record book is, but it's incorrect.

LAX/MEL is operated daily by QF and is 460 miles longer/further than LAX/SYD.

gigneil · Sat Apr 16, 2005 12:15 am

Quoting N949WP (Reply 31):
A friend of mine was working as a UA customer service rep at the airport at HKG during that period, and he swore that no UA 777 was ever put on that route.

And he would be right. UA's low-MTOW PW-powered birds are not capable of flying the route with any appreciable payload.

N

AeroWesty · Sat Apr 16, 2005 1:35 am

Quoting ZK-NBT (Reply 34):
NZ001 LHR-LAX-AKL takes 26 hours including a stop in LAX. Beat that!

That is the longest I've ever been able to find, and I believe won the contest the last time this subject came up. The MH flight from KUL-EZE, while long, doesn't even make the top 5. (I never did understand if the original poster wanted non-stop or direct.)

AKL-LAX-LHR 11960 mi
NRT-JFK-GRU 11489 mi
LHR-SIN-SYD 10672 mi
LHR-BKK-SYD 10619 mi
LHR-HKG-SYD 10575 mi
KUL-JNB-CPT-EZE 10362 mi

BG777300ER · Sat Apr 16, 2005 2:19 am

Quoting AeroWesty (Reply 47):
Quoting ZK-NBT (Reply 34):
NZ001 LHR-LAX-AKL takes 26 hours including a stop in LAX. Beat that!

On fuel stops like these, do the passengers get to leave the plane?

ZK-NBT · Sat Apr 16, 2005 8:30 am

Quoting BG777300ER (Reply 48):
On fuel stops like these, do the passengers get to leave the plane?

Yes they do, you have to clear US customs even, its more than a fuel stop really, some people fly LHR-LAX only, and others get on in LAX for the LAX-AKL sector.

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