Turkish Airlines to start world's longest non-stop flight, to Australia

Turkish Airlines has confirmed plans for the world’s first non-stop commercial flight from Europe to Australia.

The new route from Istanbul to Sydney will be the longest commercial flight in the world, spanning 8,076 nautical miles (14,956 kilometres), Air Transport World reports.

The service will initially include a stopover in Asia but the airline expects to run non-stop journeys within three years, probably using the Boeing 777-300ER.

The Istanbul-based airline’s new non-stop journey – when it begins – will put many European cities within one short hop of the Australian city.

According to the Australian newspaper, Qantas had hoped to be the first airline to run flights non-stop, but their plan looks likely to be upset by the Turkish carrier’s plan.

Currently Singapore Airlines’ non-stop, 19-hour flight running 8,388 nautical miles (15,544 kilometres) from Singapore to Newark, is the world’s longest unbroken commercial flight .

However, that service is expected to cease at the end of this year, at which point Qantas will operate the world’s longest commercial flight – from Dallas Fort Worth to Sydney (7,454 nautical miles) – until the Turkish Airlines service begins.