The idea of a domestic flight often brings to mind quick trips between nearby cities, one or two hours in the air, maybe less. Yet, some countries extend far beyond their continental borders, stretching across oceans and spanning vast territories. As a result, a number of domestic routes today are as long as major intercontinental flights. These routes defy the usual definition of “domestic,” connecting territories thousands of kilometres apart, sometimes across entire hemispheres.
In 2025, the world’s longest domestic flights include journeys between mainland France and remote Indian Ocean islands, long-haul services linking the continental United States with Hawaii, and long transatlantic flights connecting the Netherlands with Caribbean territories.
In this article, we cover the Top 10 longest domestic flights in 2025. Many of these routes exceed 10 hours in flying time and operate on widebody aircraft.
The 10 Longest Domestic Flights in the World
*Note that all routes are ranked by “great circle” distance. Flights are on a non-stop basis.
1. St. Denis, Réunion (RUN) to Paris (CDG), France
France tops the list, thanks to its overseas department of Réunion, situated off the southeastern coast of Africa. Previously operated by Air France as a direct flight with refueling stops, it changed to a non-stop flight following the completion of the new, longer runway at Saint-Denis, which could accommodate widebodies.
- Airline: Air France, Air Austral,
- Flight Distance: 9,349 km (5,048 NMI)
- Scheduled Flight Time: 11 Hours 40 Minutes
- Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER
The island, located east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, operates under French law, uses the euro, and is governed directly from Paris. As a result, this transoceanic route falls entirely within the French domestic aviation system.
Air France and Air Austral operate the route using the Boeing 777-300ER, an aircraft originally designed for ultra-long international services. The 777-300ER’s high fuel capacity, twin-engine reliability, and long-range performance make it well-suited for a flight exceeding 11 hours. The aircraft also offers multiple cabin classes, reflecting the length of the journey and the need for passenger comfort.
This flight serves a wide range of purposes. It is the main transport link for residents traveling for education, healthcare, employment, and administration in mainland France. It also supports tourism demand from European travellers visiting Réunion’s volcanic landscape and coastal regions. Cargo traffic is another important factor, with time-sensitive goods and supplies moving between Europe and the island.
2. St. Denis, Réunion (RUN) to Paris (ORY), France
The Paris Orly service from Réunion is slightly shorter in distance than the Charles de Gaulle route, but it is longer in flying time due to air traffic patterns, arrival slots, and seasonal wind conditions. Despite this small difference, the flight remains among the longest domestic services in the world. Moreover, it operates under the same legal status as any other domestic flight within France.
- Airline: Air France, Corsair, French Bee
- Flight Distance: 9,337 km (5,042 NMI)
- Scheduled Flight Time: 12 Hours 05 Minutes
- Aircraft: Airbus A330-900, A350-900, A350-1000, Boeing 777-300ER
Multiple carriers operate the Orly route, including Air France, Corsair, and French Bee. These airlines use a mix of modern long-haul aircraft such as the Airbus A330-900, A350-900, A350-1000, and the Boeing 777-300ER. The diversity of aircraft reflects the mixed market structure of this route, which blends full-service airlines with leisure-focused long-haul operators.
The use of newer aircraft such as the A350 is important for efficiency and passenger comfort. It’s lower fuel burn, improved air systems, and quieter cabins, are especially important. Airlines also configure cabins differently depending on their business model, offering high-density layouts for leisure travel or more premium seating for business-oriented passengers.
Orly primarily serves leisure traffic and travellers based in southern Paris and nearby regions. The route enables direct access to Réunion without passing through Charles de Gaulle, which reduces connection times and terminal congestion. This split between airports also allows France to distribute long-haul demand more evenly across the Paris airport system, while ensuring consistent access between the mainland and its most distant overseas department.
3. Marseille (MRS) to St. Denis, Réunion (RUN), France
Another ultra-long French domestic flight, this route connects Marseille in southern France with Réunion. Although slightly shorter than the Paris route, it still surpasses most international flights in both distance and time.
- Airline: Corsair
- Flight Distance: 8,781 km (4,741 NMI)
- Scheduled Flight Time: 11 Hours 20 Minutes
- Aircraft: Airbus A330-900
Even though it is slightly shorter than the Paris route, it still exceeds 11 hours of flying time and stretches more than 8,700 kilometres. Corsair is the airline operating this nonstop service, using the Airbus A330-900, which is capable of long missions across the Indian Ocean with strong fuel efficiency and passenger comfort.
Marseille has long-standing connections with overseas territories due to France’s maritime history and its role as a southern gateway. For many residents of Réunion living in or near southern France, the Marseille route offers a more direct option compared to traveling through Paris. This demand for family travel, long-term migration, business connections, and tourism helps sustain the route even though Réunion is a remote island.
The flight plays a key role for Corsair, which has expanded its long-haul leisure network by serving French overseas departments and territories. The A330-900 is particularly well suited to the mission because of its modern cabin, improved range, and fuel-saving design. With more than 11 hours in the air, the route operates like a long transcontinental service, requiring careful scheduling, crew management, and maintenance planning.
4. Boston (BOS) to Honolulu (HNL), United States
One of the longest mainland-to-Hawaii routes, this flight links the northeastern U.S. with the Pacific islands.
- Airline: Hawaiian Airlines
- Flight Distance: 8,199 km (4,427 NMI)
- Scheduled Flight Time: 11 Hours 35 Minutes
- Aircraft: Airbus A330-200
Hawaiian Airlines operates this flight using its Airbus A330-200 fleet, aircraft designed for long overwater operations with strong range and reliability. The route stretches more than 8,000 kilometres and regularly exceeds 11 hours of flying time, making it longer than many transatlantic flights linking North America with Europe.
For Hawaiian Airlines, Boston is a strategically chosen destination. The airline identifies large diaspora communities, strong tourism potential, and an underserved East Coast market for nonstop flights to Hawaii. Boston, being a major hub for business, education, and healthcare, produces consistent demand from travellers heading to the Hawaiian Islands for leisure or family visits. At the same time, Honolulu continues to grow as an important connecting point for the airline’s inter-island and transpacific flights.
The aircraft selection plays an important role in making the route viable. The Airbus A330-200 offers a comfortable two-aisle layout and operational flexibility for long-haul missions. Its ETOPS certification enables direct routing across remote oceanic sectors, and Hawaiian’s cabin products such as lie-flat premium seats help capture high-yield traffic.
5. Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) to Mayotte (DZA), France
Mayotte is another French overseas department located near Madagascar. As with Réunion, this long-haul flight is considered domestic.
- Airline: Air Austral
- Flight Distance: 8,030 km (4,340 NMI)
- Scheduled Flight Time: 9 Hours 45 Minutes
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-8, 777-300ER
Mayotte, located in the Mozambique Channel between Madagascar and mainland Africa, is a French overseas department. This status means flights to and from Paris are considered domestic, even though the route covers more than 8,000 kilometres. Air Austral is the carrier operating this long-haul service, relying on its Boeing 787-8 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
Mayotte’s location makes air travel the primary mode of long-distance transport for residents and visitors. Paris, as the administrative and economic centre of France, maintains strong demand for travel from the island, from students and families to government workers and business passengers. The flight time of around 9 hours and 45 minutes places it among the longest domestic services in Europe, even though no part of the route passes over mainland France until the final portion of the journey.
Air Austral’s choice of aircraft reflects both the geography and the passenger expectations of the route. The Boeing 787-8 offers fuel efficiency, lower operating costs, and modern cabin features suitable for long-haul service. Meanwhile, the Boeing 777-300ER provides high capacity during periods of strong demand, such as holidays or school vacation seasons.
Moreover, the domestic classification also impacts the travel experience. Passengers flying from Paris to Mayotte do so within the French transportation system, benefitting from simplified connections and consistent standards. For the airline, it means operating a long intercontinental mission with the regulatory framework of a domestic flight. This unique setup highlights the global footprint of France’s aviation network and the importance of long-haul domestic routes in linking far-flung territories with the European mainland.
6. New York (JFK) to Honolulu (HNL), United States
Flights from New York to Honolulu are among the longest U.S. domestic routes.
- Airline: Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines
- Flight Distance: 8,020 km (4,330 NMI)
- Scheduled Flight Time: 11 Hours 25 Minutes
- Aircraft: Boeing 767-300ER, 787-9
Stretching more than 8,000 kilometres and requiring over 11 hours in the air, the service links the East Coast’s largest city with Hawaii’s primary gateway. Both Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines operate nonstop flights between the two cities using widebody aircraft such as the Boeing 767-300ER and Boeing 787-9.
For airlines, connecting New York and Hawaii has a strong commercial rationale. New York is not only a high-population center but also attracts global tourism, and many travellers from the region prefer direct access to the Hawaiian Islands rather than connecting through West Coast hubs. Hawaiian Airlines uses Honolulu as its key hub for onward travel, while Delta positions the route within its broader long-haul domestic strategy focused on leisure demand.
The aircraft used on this route are well suited for long missions. The Boeing 767-300ER has been a core long-haul aircraft for Delta, offering a balance between range and capacity. Hawaiian Airlines’ Boeing 787-9 is more modern, providing improved fuel efficiency, quieter cabins, and advanced passenger comfort. Both aircraft types are capable of crossing vast Pacific sectors under ETOPS regulations, which is essential for such a long domestic flight.
7. Newark (EWR) to Honolulu (HNL), United States
The Newark–Honolulu service is one of the longest domestic flights operated by a U.S. airline and represents a true coast-to-Pacific crossing. The route connects the northeastern United States with Hawaii, requiring an oceanic flight that rivals the length of many international services across the Atlantic. United Airlines operates this route using the Boeing 767-400ER.
- Airline: United Airlines
- Flight Distance: 7,986 km (4,312 NMI)
- Scheduled Flight Time: 11 Hours 25 Minutes
- Aircraft: Boeing 767-400ER
Newark serves as United’s major hub in the New York metropolitan area, offering connections from across the world. For passengers traveling to Hawaii, this route eliminates the need for connecting flights through West Coast cities such as Los Angeles or San Francisco. As a result, it is particularly useful for long-distance travellers from the eastern United States who want to reach Hawaii with a single nonstop flight.
The Boeing 767-400ER is well suited for this route due to its balance of range and capacity. Although it is no longer in production, the aircraft remains reliable for long missions and is commonly used by U.S. carriers on extended domestic and transatlantic routes. Its twin-engine design and ETOPS certification allow for direct routing across remote Pacific airspace.
8. Aruba (AUA) to Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands
Though located in the Caribbean, Aruba is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, making this transatlantic route a domestic one.
- Airline: TUI fly Netherlands
- Flight Distance: 7,883 km (4,256 NMI)
- Scheduled Flight Time: 9 Hours 55 Minutes
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-8
The route covers nearly 8,000 kilometres and takes close to 10 hours, placing it in the same category as many transatlantic long-haul flights. TUI fly Netherlands operates this service with the Boeing 787-8, an aircraft known for its fuel efficiency and suitability for long sectors across the Atlantic.
Aruba’s tourism-driven economy helps support strong travel demand to and from Europe. Amsterdam plays an important role as the main connecting hub for Dutch travellers visiting the Caribbean, while Aruban residents rely on the link for administrative, educational, and medical travel. The Boeing 787-8 has sufficient range to operate the route comfortably, and its modern cabin with improved pressurization, larger windows, and reduced noise, helps travellers handle the long flight duration.
For TUI fly Netherlands, this route is part of a wider network connecting Amsterdam with several Caribbean destinations. The airline focuses heavily on leisure markets, and Aruba attracts a large number of Dutch tourists year-round. The route also benefits from cargo demand, including perishables and consumer goods moving between the two regions.
9. Curaçao (CUR) to Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands
Curaçao to Amsterdam is another long-haul domestic route within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, stretching more than 7,800 kilometres. It is served by multiple carriers, including KLM, TUI fly Netherlands, and World2Fly, all of which deploy widebody aircraft such as the Airbus A350-900, Boeing 787-8, and Boeing 777-200.
- Airline: KLM, TUI fly Netherlands, World2Fly
- Flight Distance: 7,838 km (4,232 NMI)
- Scheduled Flight Time: 10 Hours 15 Minutes
- Aircraft: Airbus A350-900, Boeing 777-200, Boeing 787-8, A350-900
Curaçao’s close ties with the Netherlands make this flight essential for residents, students, and government workers. The island has a large population with Dutch citizenship, which results in consistent year-round demand for travel to and from Amsterdam. For KLM, the route is part of a long-established presence in the Caribbean dating back several decades. Curaçao remains one of the airline’s most important long-haul leisure destinations, supported by strong tourism flows, VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic, and commercial links.
World2Fly and TUI fly Netherlands add more capacity, offering additional seat options for travellers seeking holiday-oriented schedules. The aircraft used provide nonstop capability, efficient fuel burn, and comfortable layouts for flights that exceed 10 hours in the westbound direction. With the Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-8, the airlines can operate efficiently even during challenging weather conditions or periods of high demand.
From an operational standpoint, the route highlights how Dutch aviation extends far beyond Europe. The Caribbean islands rely heavily on air transport for economic activity, and Amsterdam provides the most direct access for trade, higher education, and public services.
10. Bonaire (BON) to Amsterdam (AMS), Netherlands
Completing the trio of long-haul Dutch domestic flights, Bonaire is also part of the Netherlands’ overseas public bodies.
- Airline: KLM, TUI fly Netherlands, World2Fly
- Flight Distance: 7,796 km (4,210 NMI)
- Scheduled Flight Time: 10 Hours 10 Minutes
- Aircraft: Airbus A330-200, A330-300, A350-900, Boeing 787-8
Covering nearly 7,800 kilometres, the flight typically runs for just over 10 hours westbound. KLM, TUI fly Netherlands, and World2Fly all operate the route using a variety of widebody aircraft, including the Airbus A330-200, A330-300, A350-900, and Boeing 787-8. The range of aircraft types shows how important the route is to each carrier’s long-haul strategy.
Bonaire is smaller in population compared to Aruba and Curaçao, but the travel flow remains significant. Many residents have direct ties to the Netherlands, and tourism from Europe continues to grow as Bonaire becomes more recognized for diving, eco-tourism, and marine conservation. Amsterdam serves as the central connecting point for Dutch travellers heading to the island, while Bonaire relies on the route for access to government services, medical facilities, and higher education opportunities in the Netherlands.
The flight requires aircraft with long-range capability, and the widebody types selected by the airlines offer strong performance during long Atlantic crossings. The Airbus A330 and A350 families provide excellent fuel efficiency and operational reliability, while the Boeing 787-8’s composite structure and advanced systems make it ideal for long-haul leisure flights. The route demonstrates how airlines match aircraft type to demand levels, time of year, and expected passenger volumes.
Historical Longest Domestic Flight
During the spring of COVID-19, Air Tahiti Nui operated the longest domestic flight ever flown by a long shot between French Polynesia and Paris CDG. Originally, Air Tahiti Nui used to operate flights from Papeete, Tahiti Faa’a International Airport to Paris CDG with a stopover at Los Angeles International Airport.
However, due to pandemic restrictions, Air Tahiti Nui and later French Bee flew the route nonstop, making it the longest domestic flight ever operated.
Papeete (PPT) – Paris (CDG), France (During COVID-19)
- Airline: Air Tahiti Nui
- Flight Distance: 15,715 km (8,485 NMI)
- Scheduled Flight Time: 16 Hours, 20 Minutes
- Aircraft: Boeing 787-9
Sources: GC Map
