An Emirates Airbus A380 jet has made the current longest non-stop scheduled commercial flight by distance. The plane covered about 14,200km (8,824 miles) when it touched down in Auckland, New Zealand on Wednesday.
It was expected to be the world’s longest non-stop commercial flight by duration as well, but landed too early. The Auckland-Dubai portion was estimated to take around 17 hours and 15 minutes, but in the end took only 16 hours and 24 minutes, according to the New Zealand Herald. However, the new route reportedly reduces the current travel time by three hours.
The inaugural flight was made by an A380, but the route will normally be operated by a Boeing 777-200LR.