While it will not break any point-to-point records, routing restrictions over Russia will suddenly make a Cathay Pacific flagship route the longest flight in the world.
Facing Russian Airspace Restriction, Cathay Pacific Will Unofficially Launch World’s Longest Flight By Distance, HKG-JFK
Cathay Pacific will commence several longhaul routes in April, including nonstop service to New York JFK, which one ran three-times daily prior to the civil unrest in Hong Kong and the pandemic. As noted by Danny Lee of Bloomberg, the HKG-JFK route will become world’s longest thanks to routing restrictions required by blocked Russian airspace.
While China claims to have taken a neutral position in the War in Ukraine, Hong Kong flights will avoid Russian airspace. This creates a problem for Cathay Pacific, whose New York route is polar and spends considerable time in Russian airspace. At least historically…
But in a memo to staff, Cathay Pacific outlined its new routing between JFK and HKG, which will utilize Chinese, Central Asian, Gulf, and European airspace to complete the journey.
The new routing will mean the journey is 10,326 miles, making it the longest flight in the world (just edging out Singapore Airlines’ 9,537 mile flight from New York to Singapore). That’s over 2,000 miles more than the point-to-point routing of 8,072 miles.
Flights times will vary based upon wind conditions, but reach 16-17 hours in duration. Cathay Pacific has indicated its Airbus A350-100 aircraft can handle the mission.
Cathay Pacific is not alone in struggling with new routings which avoid Russia. For example, Japan Air Lines now uses Alaskan and Canadian space instead of Russian space for its service between Tokyo and London, which adds nearly five hours to the journey time.
CONCLUSION
New routing which avoids Russian airspace presents both logistical and practical nightmares for airlines. Think about the all the extra fuel required for these routings, further pinching already-thin margins. Cathay Pacific will soon unofficially launch world’s longest flight. While not even in the top-10 in terms of point-to-point distance, routing restrictions will (hopefully just temporarily) make it world’s longest route.
image: Cathay Pacific
I wonder how the Chicago flight will be? I used to use that and I think it cut through parts of Siberia – but not sure. It might be that it could, even with winds, skirt alongside it and still have the range going the normal routing, as I recall it being pretty close to the coast. If so, given a choice, I would just take that with a connection.
I would even prefer a connection in Tokyo with a day or two layover for food and fun. I just don’t get these ultra long haul flights. I am not interested in sitting on a plane for 18 straight hours. Breaking it up if you can is great. Are there really that many people so gung-ho that they need to rally it there? I mean, I work a schedule but will always find time for acclimating and getting there before meetings, etc.
There is cathay pacific, a carrier of an officially neutral country, going out of its way to avoid russian airspace and there is our former president openly asking for help from the enemy, and not only is he not in prison but still supported by traitors who financed, supported, or took part in terrorist activities of jan/6.
Son, I’ve been telling you to stop going on the internet drunk. You’re making me and your mother look like we’ve raised a complete ass on this travel forum.
I have absolutely no qualms spending a few extra hours in F or J on CX. I really wish we could do something about eastbound TATL flights though.