dailynewsnblog
London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is renowned for many things, including the inability to build a new runway. In October 2026, OAG data shows that it is the world’s third-busiest airport for flights by widebody aircraft, after Tokyo Haneda (due to so many domestic services) and Dubai (Emirates).
LHR has 257 daily departures on widebody aircraft, influenced by the lack of slots and pricing structure and airlines consequently deploying larger equipment. It is also the world’s leading airport for long-haul activity, with 244 daily services. These things combine to ensure that LHR has 217 seats per flight, which is the second-highest number among the world’s 15 busiest airports.
Heathrow’s 11 Longest Nonstop Flights
Focusing on nonstop activity from October 2026 until next summer indicates the following longest airport pairs. Only one direction of each market is included, even if the other is also long enough to feature.
As usual, the order is based on the maximum block time. This includes taxiing at both ends of a route, the flight time, and a period for short delays. Measured as chocks-off-to-chocks-on, or gate-to-gate, it is what’s shown on airline websites, in other booking locations, and in schedules.
The impact of detouring to avoid closed or limited airspace is evident in some of the entries, which are much longer than they would ordinarily be. Examples abound. For example, due to tensions between Taiwan and China, China Airlines avoids Chinese airspace in both directions, increasing the maximum block time to 16 hours and 10 minutes.
Maximum Block Time* | Direction Of Route With That Time | Nonstop Operations (October 2026-August 2027)** |
|---|---|---|
17 hours and 50 minutes | Perth to LHR | Nonstop flights are scheduled to resume on February 1. Qantas; daily 787-9. More on the route below |
16 hours and 10 minutes | Taipei to LHR | China Airlines; five weekly A350-900 |
15 hours and 05 minutes | Tokyo Haneda to LHR | British Airways; two daily A350-900/777-200ER/787-9. Japan Airlines; two daily A350-1000/787-8. All Nippon; daily 777-300ER |
15 hours and 00 minutes | Bandar Seri Begawan to LHR | Royal Brunei; three weekly 787-8. Flights are due to operate via Dubai again on March 30, when the route will exit this list |
15 hours and 00 minutes | Seoul Incheon to LHR | Asiana; daily A350-900 (787-10 December-February). Korean Air; daily 777-300ER. Virgin Atlantic; up to daily 787-9 |
14 hours and 55 minutes | Singapore to LHR | British Airways; two daily A380/777-300ER/787-9 (just welcomed the return of the A380). Qantas; two daily A380/787-9 (only the A380 is bookable on a standalone basis; the other is a tech stop until the end of January). Singapore Airlines; four daily A350-900/A380/777-300ER |
14 hours and 50 minutes | Hong Kong to LHR | British Airways; daily A350-1000. Cathay Pacific; five daily A350-900/A350-1000/777-300ER |
14 hours and 50 minutes | Shanghai Pudong to LHR | British Airways; daily 787-9. China Eastern; daily 777-300ER |
14 hours and 35 minutes | LHR to Santiago | British Airways; four weekly 787-9 (nonstop service ends on March 27, switching to a daily 777-200ER operation via Buenos Aires the next day. When that happens, the route will fall off the list) |
14 hours and 15 minutes | Kuala Lumpur to LHR | British Airways; daily 787-9 (flights will continue to Melbourne in January). Malaysia Airlines; two daily A350-900 |
14 hours and 00 minutes | LHR to Buenos Aires | British Airways; daily 777-200ER (currently, flights stop en route in Rio de Janeiro, becoming nonstop on March 28) |
* Even if only once | ** Known as of October 7 and subject to change. If any entry has more than one carrier, only the maximum block time is stated across the airlines |
Qantas Has Heathrow’s Longest Nonstop Operation, But…
Due to the ongoing war in Iran, Qantas does not currently fly nonstop from Perth Airport (PER) to LHR. Instead, the operating 787-9 stops en route in Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) to refuel and change crew. As it is a tech stop, passengers cannot book SIN-LHR separately; they’d need the long-standing A380 service from Sydney to LHR via SIN for that.
This one-stop service is due to continue until January 31 at the earliest, although the war’s process may mean that it is pushed back. When Qantas’ nonstop flights from PER to LHR resume, they will begin in Melbourne Airport (MEL). When that happens, MEL will have two one-stop, same-plane, same-flight-number services to LHR, with Qantas joining BA.
It is different for flights to PER. Due to tailwinds and thus a lower flight time, the fuel can go further. As such, flights currently do operate nonstop from LHR back to Western Australia. For now, the 787-9 only runs to/from PER. However, on October 24, passengers will be able to continue from LHR to MEL on the same aircraft. But until February, passengers flying from MEL will have to change planes in PER.
Argentina Joins The List, But Not Until Next Year
British Airways recently made various changes to its South American network, with the capitals of both Chile (Santiago) and Argentina (Buenos Aires) affected. At the end of March, Buenos Aires will welcome the return of BA’s nonstop service, joining the longest list again. This setup was last available in 2023, after which time flights stopped in Rio.
On the same day, Santiago will return to being a one-stop operation, and will thus fall out of the list. One-stop service to Chile was last available in 2000, when BA’s 747-400s flew via Argentina. It’ll thus return to that operation after more than a quarter of a century, just on a twinjet for the first time.
