THE BOEING 777-200LR WITH A RANGE OF 17,395KM AND AIRBUS A340-500 WITH A RANGE OF 16,670KM–IS MAKING NON-STOP FLIGHTS A REALITY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD–AS BOEING EXPANDS EVEN FURTHER WITH ITS LATEST AIRLINE THE 789-9 DREAMLINER THAT MAKES THE WORLD THAT MATCH SMALLER IN TRAVEL

Potential ... Range map of the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner that joins the Qantas International fleet from 2017.

AIRCRAFT capable of flying non-stop for close to 20 hours at a time are helping to make the world a smaller place.

International airlines are increasingly looking to use aircraft such as the Boeing 777-200LR to fly to far flung destinations in one hit.

Next February, Emirates will launch the world’s longest non-stop flight from Dubai to Panama City, over a distance of 13,821km.

But that is likely to be eclipsed within months by Air India, which is planning to fly 14,003km non-stop from Bengaluru to San Francisco.

The incredible range of the Boeing 777-200LR makes a direct flight from Sydney to London a possibility, at a distance of 16,983km.

Sydney to New York City is even more realistic, at 15,979km, or Brisbane to London at 16,516km.

Qantas boss Alan Joyce hinted last month that the airline would look at new routes when delivery of new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners begin in 2017.

http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/how-far-will-they-go-the-race-for-the-longest-direct-flights/story-e6frfq80-1227544023993