Emirates Claims “World’s Longest Flight” With Panama Service
Joe Cortez August 14, 2015
Emirates is taking away the World’s Longest Flight title from Qantas with a new route to Panama.
UAE flag carrier Emirates will soon add the world’s longest flight to its list of accomplishments. In a press release issued Thursday, the airline announced plans to launch nonstop service between between Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Panama City’s Tocumen International Airport (PTY) in February 2016.
Emirates will operate the service aboard a Boeing 777-200LR. The 17-hour flight will span 8,590 miles, about 7,465 nautical miles, a distance well within the aircraft’s impressive operating range.
When launched, Emirates’ DBX-PTY route will be the world’s longest nonstop flight, surpassing the previous title holder — Qantas Airways’ service between Sydney Airport (SYD) and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) — by about 10 nautical miles.
“Panama City will be our first destination gateway in Central America, providing a convenient option for our passengers travelling from or through our global hub in Dubai,” said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive of Emirates. “We’re also pleased to be the only commercial airline to offer a daily, First Class service to travelers on what will be the world’s longest non-stop flight.”
The DBX-PTY aircraft will feature a three-class configuration, with eight first class seats, 42 business class seats and over 200 economy class seats. While the flight will hold the title of “world’s longest,” the route is shorter than previous record holder Singapore Airlines’ flight from their home city-state to Newark, at 8,285 nautical miles.
While Emirates is one of the Gulf carriers currently being investigated for alleged violations of Open Skies agreements, the probe has not stopped the airline from expanding its global footprint. According to the CAPA Centre for Aviation, Emirates is planning to add service to Orlando International Airport (MCO) in September, while expanding service to Boston and Seattle.
[Photo: Emirates]
Haha JW76... I can't see any point in this route.
17 hours nonstop in economy. Is this some new form of ISIS-inspired torture? Will they serve blood thinners with dinner?
BTW, that was a dig at Yahoo!, not Joe. Writing is hard work.
Joe Cortez should write for Yahoo! Yahoo! had a photo of the wrong plane type (an A380 instead of a 777), and they misspelled Sydney. Anyway, very surprised to see this new route.
Go Emirates go!!!