Wego sheds lights on Middle East evolving aviation landscape

Wego.com recently shared insights into the evolving landscape of aviation, the world’s longest flight routes and which airlines are changing the game.

“Aviation has come a long way since 1943, when Qantas operated the world’s longest commercial flight with a weekly service between Perth and Colombo. The duration of the flight was 28-32 hours, and seated three passengers on a tiny Catalina aircraft travelling at 200km/h,” said Dean Wicks, chief flights officer for Wego.

He further added: “Singapore Airlines holds the record for longest flight for its 100 passenger, all business class service from Singapore to Newark. However, when Singapore Airlines cancelled that flight in 2013, the record returned to Qantas with their Sydney to Dallas/Fort Worth service, a duration of 16 hours, 55 minutes.”

Emirates will become the new record holder for longest flight duration on 1 February 2016 from Dubai to Panama City flying a total of 17 hours, 35 minutes. That’s 13,821 kms on Emirates Boeing 777-200LR aircraft.

“The new Emirates service places Qantas back to second, but it will be interesting to see how long they retains that position, as Qantas has already expressed their intentions to operate a direct Perth to London service, a distance of 14,000 kms, when they receive their 787-900 in 2017,” said Wicks.

Of the top eleven longest flights in the world, eight are serviced by Middle Eastern carriers – Emirates, Etihad, Qatar and Saudia. Further, Istanbul’s new airport, slated to open in 2018, potentially could launch 200 new routes to over 150 destinations.