World of Aviation: Long Line

What’s in store for the far-sighted ambition of both airlines and airframes?

In 2019, what does long-haul really mean in the world of aviation? Where once long-haul flying was considered anything over six hours, then eight, then 10, a 12-hour long-haul flight is the new normal. A 14-hour hop isn’t remarkable, even in the most basic and pedestrian of aircraft configurations.

Welcome to the age of ultra long-haul flying, where 20-hour flights are within our grasp, and nobody blinks an eye at 12-hour trips such as Buenos Aires-Madrid or Tokyo-Los Angeles, or even 14-hour flights from Dubai to Melbourne or Beijing to Houston.