dailynewsnblog
Today, you can get virtually anywhere in the world with just one stopover, and aircraft ranges have improved to the point where nearly any two cities can be connected nonstop. However, whether due to range limitations, performance challenges, or economics, there are still a handful of routes that airlines have to operate with a stopover, some of which are what is known as a fifth freedom route.
A fifth-freedom route essentially permits airlines to operate between two foreign countries with a stopover in a third country, and to pick up more passengers in the stopover airport. The flight has to carry the same flight number, but does not necessarily need to use the same aircraft or even aircraft variant. Using data from Cirium, an aviation data analytics company, these are the world’s longest one-stop routes in 2025.
6
Singapore To New York-JFK Via Frankfurt
8,903 NM / 16,489 km
Singapore Airlines already operates double-daily nonstop flights between Singapore and New York-JFK/Newark. However, these routes require the Airbus A350-900ULR, a specialized variant of the A350-900 with software improvements to maximize fuel capacity, a deactivated forward cargo hold, and a premium-heavy configuration consisting of 67 business class seats and 94 premium economy seats, for a total capacity of 161 passengers, making it the least dense Airbus A350 layout in the world.
For those flying in first class or economy, Singapore Airlines offers a one-stop flight to New York-JFK that stops in Frankfurt Airport. Currently, this route utilizes the Boeing 777-300ER, which aeroLOPA shows comes with four first class seats, 48 business class seats, 28 premium economy seats, and 184 economy seats, totalling 264 seats. This configuration comes with more seats overall than the A350-900ULR, but less premium capacity.
The leg from Singapore to Frankfurt is complemented by a daily Singapore Airlines A380 service, as well as daily Boeing 747 flights by fellow Star Alliance member Lufthansa. The flight from Frankfurt to New York, meanwhile, also features Lufthansa services to JFK and Newark, along with a flight by United Airlines to Newark. In addition, Singapore Airlines has to compete against Delta Air Lines, which flies daily between JFK and Frankfurt.
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They are operated by seven carriers.
5
Sydney To Rome Via Perth
8,984 NM / 16,639 km
While Qantas’ long-haul operations are primarily based out of Australia’s west coast, the arrival of the Boeing 787-9 has allowed the carrier to transform its base in Perth, in the eastern part of Australia, into a connecting hub for European routes. The carrier currently operates nonstop flights from Perth to London-Heathrow, in addition to services between Perth and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, along with a seasonal flight between Perth and Rome. All of these flights use the 787-9.
While the route from Perth to London solely operates between these two cities, the route between Perth and Rome also features a tag on flight to Sydney. This segment utilizes the same flight numbers as the leg to Rome, and it even uses the Boeing 787-9 on the domestic leg.
The flight to Rome is the second European route that Qantas has launched from Perth, having commenced before Paris. While Paris and especially London are both major business hubs, Italy is a major tourist destination, and it also has strong VFR (visiting friends/relatives) ties with Australia. The route was launched shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s remained ever since, operating during the northern summer season.
4
Sydney To London-Heathrow Via Singapore
9,274 NM / 17,176 km
England and Australia share close ties, yet the immense distance between the two continents means that nonstop flights between the two nations’ largest cities (London and Sydney) are not possible with an economic payload in 2025. While Qantas’ Project Sunrise promises to shrink the distance between the two in 2027 by using the Airbus A350-1000ULR, which can perform the flight nonstop, passengers currently have to settle for a stopover.
Currently, Qantas operates a daily Airbus A380-800 on this one-stop route. Given that it’s a fifth freedom route, Qantas (and all other airlines on this list) is entitled to sell tickets between Sydney and Singapore, Sydney and London, as well as London and Singapore. The same is true for British Airways, which operates a daily Boeing 777-300ER on this route. British Airways is one of only two European airlines flying to Australia (the other being Turkish Airlines), and it’s been operating to Down Under for far longer than Turkish Airlines.
|
Airline |
Hub |
Australian Cities Served |
Aircraft Type |
|---|---|---|---|
|
British Airways |
London Heathrow Airport |
Sydney (Via Singapore) |
Boeing 777-300ER |
|
Turkish Airlines |
Istanbul Airport |
Melbourne (Via Singapore) Sydney (Via Kuala Lumpur) |
Airbus A350-900 |
British Airways and Qantas are both 
oneworld members, meaning that the competition on this route isn’t necessarily between the two flag carriers. Rather, their true competition is Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, and several other Asian carriers with connecting hubs located along the way that offer high frequencies, low prices, and in many cases, exceptional onboard quality. The scale and economics of these competing hubs mean that competition is exceptionally stiff, even if British Airways and Qantas are the only carriers offering direct flights.
3
Sydney To Paris Via Perth
9,475 NM / 17,548 km
Paris-Charles de Gaulle was the third European destination that Qantas launched nonstop flights to with the 787 from Perth. Just like with the route to Rome, the same flight number is used from Perth to Paris and from Perth to Sydney, making it the world’s third-longest one-stop route. Both segments also use the Boeing 787-9, just like with the flight from Sydney to Rome via Perth.
The route from Perth to London operates daily, while services to Rome and Paris operate up to four times per week and three times per week, respectively. While flights to Rome operate only during the northern summer season, the route to Paris is flown year-round, likely due to the fact that this service is primarily aimed towards business travelers rather than leisure customers.
While the same flight number is also used between Perth and Sydney, and this segment also uses a Boeing 787, the same aircraft does not always operate this leg. Often, the 787 that arrives from Paris will then turn around to operate a different European service, while a different 787 will then fly between Perth and Sydney. This is also true of the route to Rome, while the service between Perth and London does not have an additional tag to Sydney.
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2
Beijing To Sao Paulo Via Madrid
9,494 NM / 17,582 km
Air China operates thrice weekly services between Beijing and São Paulo, with a stopover in Madrid. This is the carrier’s only route to South America, and it operates using a Boeing 787-9. Data from aeroLOPA shows that these aircraft come with 30 business class seats, 34 premium economy seats, and 229 economy seats. In total, this amounts to 293 seats.
Air China (as well as all of China’s largest airlines) is majority-owned by the government. This means that, while there are several brands that technically compete, the entire system is one airline, and many routes are opened not to capitalize on existing demand or to induce new demand, but rather to further the goals of the government of China.
China is looking to strengthen relationships with South American nations such as Brazil, and a direct flight helps build closer ties. In addition, the increased economic cooperation between the two nations increases demand for this route, while Air China is also capitalizing on demand between São Paulo and Madrid and from Madrid to Beijing. At the end of the day, however, this route’s success will come only if the Chinese government deems it a success.
1
Shanghai To Buenos Aires Via Auckland
10,627 NM / 19,680 km
China Eastern Airlines is the third-largest airline in China (After China Southern and Air China), and like the other two, it’s majority-owned by the Chinese government. Just like the route between Beijing and Sao Paulo, China Eastern’s services to Buenos Aires came as China continues to build relationships with South American countries, in this case, Argentina.
China Eastern uses the Boeing 777-300ER on this route. Data from aeroLOPA shows that China Eastern installs six first-class seats, 52 business-class seats, and 258 economy seats, for a total capacity of 318 passengers. This is China Eastern’s largest, most premium aircraft, and it’s clear that there is a strong intent to serve Buenos Aires with the best product that China Eastern has to offer.
While this route may be politically motivated, there is also a growing market for travel between South America and Oceania. These two continents are already connected by LATAM (Santiago to Auckland/Melbourne/Sydney) and by Qantas (Sydney to Santiago). In addition, there is also high demand for travel between China and New Zealand, a market in which China Eastern already has a strong position. The carrier’s other flight between Shanghai and Auckland uses an Airbus A330, meaning that the additional 777-300ER flight offers more capacity and a first-class cabin.
