On October 23, 2015, a historic moment occurred when an Airbus A340-642 flown by Hong Kong Airlines took off from Hong Kong International Airport on route to London Heathrow Airport. The flight began its journey in Hong Kong. This was no average flight; in fact, it was the longest flight ever completed without making any stops by a commercial airline!The duration of the trip was exactly 22 hours and 42 minutes, and it traveled a total of 21,602 kilometers.
This brings us to more than three-quarters of the way around the world! A total of 16 pilots and 14 cabin crew members worked together to successfully complete the flight.The Airbus A340-642 is a type of aircraft with a long range that has four engines and is capable of flying for up to 20 hours straight. Because it can go a distance of 14,800 kilometers, it was clearly the best option for this historic voyage.
All of the passengers arrived in London without incident thanks to the flight's tremendous success. This flight has given us access to previously unavailable options for long-distance travel, and we can't wait to see where they lead us next!