British Airways’ 10 Longest Routes: What’s Onboard?

British Airways is the national carrier of the United Kingdom and one of the world’s oldest full-service airlines. The airline operates some of the longest routes using a variety of modern long-haul aircraft. This article explores British Airways’ longest routes from its two bases in London, based on the data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company.

10

London Heathrow (LHR) Shanghai (PVG)

Flight distance: 5,755 miles

• Operates the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet

At the bottom of our list of the longest routes operated by the United Kingdom’s flag carrier, British Airways, is from London Heathrow (LHR) to Shanghai Pudong International (PVG), with a flight distance of 5,755 miles. The airline operates its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet. British Airways 787-9s are configured with 216 seats in four classes.

British Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner

• First: 8 suites with 79″ long flat-bed and a width of 22″
• Club World: 42 seats arranged forward/aft facing, converts to 72″ flatbed, or 78″ z-bed, and 20″ width
• World Traveller Plus: 39 Recaro PL3530 seats arranged 2-3-2, with a pitch of 38″ and a width measuring 18.7 inches
• World Traveller: 127 Recaro CL3620 seats arranged 3-3-3, with a pitch of 31″ and a width measuring 17.1inches

Between February and December 2025, the airline is scheduled to operate 302 round-trip flights, with over 3.4 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs). The one-way flight takes 12 hours and 35 minutes to complete. China Eastern Airlines also operates the route using its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

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9

London Heathrow (LHR) São Paulo, Brazil (GRU)

Flight distance: 5,863 miles

• Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
• Airbus A350-1000s

Another long route by British Airways connects London Heathrow (LHR) to São Paulo (GRU) in Brazil, with a flight distance of 5,863 miles. The airline operates a combination of Airbus A350-1000s and Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner fleet.

British Airways Airbus A350-1000

• Club World: 56 club world suites with a privacy screen door, converts to 79″ flatbed, and 21″ width
• World Traveller Plus: 56 Recaro PL3530 seats arranged 2-4-2, with a pitch of 38″ and a width measuring 18.7 inches
• World Traveller: 219 Recaro CL3620 seats arranged 3-3-3, with a pitch of 31″ and a width measuring 18 inches

Photo: Ceri Breeze | Shutterstock

British Airways Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner

• Club World: 35 seats arranged forward/aft facing, converts to 72″ flatbed, or 78″ z-bed, and 20″ width
• World Traveller Plus: 29 Recaro PL3530 seats arranged 2-3-2, with a pitch of 38″ and a width measuring 18.7 inches
• World Traveller: 154 Recaro CL3620 seats arranged 3-3-3, with a pitch of 31″ and a width measuring 17.1inches

Photo: Fasttailwind | Shutterstock

Between February and December 2025, the airline is scheduled to operate 389 round-trip flights, with over 2.2 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs). Of the 389 flights, 334 are operated on A350-1000, and 53 see the smaller 787-8 Dreamliners. The flight from London takes 11 hours and 45 minutes to complete. LATAM also operates the route using its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

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8

London Gatwick (LGW) Bangkok, Thailand (BKK)

Flight distance: 5,953 miles

Another long route by British Airways connects London Gatwick (LGW) to Bangkok (BKK) in Thailand, with a flight distance of 5,953 miles. The airline operates its Boeing 777-200ER fleet, having 234 seats in four classes.

Photo: British Airways

British Airways Boeing 777-200ER

• First: 14 suites with 79″ long flat-bed and a width of 22″
• Club World: 48 seats arranged forward/aft facing, converts to 72″ flatbed, and 20″ width
• World Traveller Plus: 40 Recaro PL3530 seats arranged 2-4-2, with a pitch of 38″ and a width measuring 18.7 inches
• World Traveller: 134 Recaro CL3620 seats arranged 3-4-3, with a pitch of 31″ and a width measuring 17.3 inches

Between February and December 2025, the airline is scheduled to operate 76 round-trip flights, with over 900K Available Seat Miles (ASMs). The one-way flight from London takes 11 hours and 55 minutes to complete.

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7

London Heathrow (LHR) Tokyo Haneda (HND)

Flight distance: 5,974 miles

• Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner
• Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
• Airbus A350-1000s

Another long-haul route operated by British Airways connects London Heathrow (LHR) to Tokyo Haneda (HND), with a flight distance of 5,974 miles. The airline operates a combination of Airbus A350-1000s and Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 Dreamliners.

Photo: British Airways

Between February and December 2025, the airline is scheduled to operate 584 round-trip flights, with nearly 3.5 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs). Of the 584 flights, 210 are operated on A350-1000s, 322 on the 787-9, and 52 on the shorter 787-8. The flight from London takes 13 hours and 50 minutes to complete. Japan Airlines also operates the route using its Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

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6

London Heathrow (LHR) Cape Town (CPT)

Flight distance: 5,994 miles

British Airways connects London Heathrow (LHR) to Cape Town (CPT), South Africa, with a flight distance of 5,994 miles. The airline operates a combination of Airbus A350-1000s, Boeing 787-8, 787-9, 777-200ERs, and 777-300ERs.

Photo: British Airways

British Airways Boeing 777-300ER

• First: 8 suites featuring a pair of sliding privacy doors, a 79″ long flat-bed, and a width of 22″
• Club World: 76 seats arranged forward/aft facing, converts to 79″ flatbed and 21″ width
• World Traveller Plus: 40 Recaro PL3530 seats arranged 2-4-2, with a pitch of 38″ and a width measuring 18.7 inches
• World Traveller: 132 Recaro CL3620 seats arranged 3-4-3, with a pitch of 31″ and a width measuring 17.3 inches

Between February and December 2025, the airline is scheduled to operate 515 round-trip flights, with over 5.1 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs). The flight from London takes 11 hours and 35 minutes to complete. Virgin Atlantic also operates the route using its Boeing 787-9 aircraft.

5

London Heathrow (LHR) Hong Kong (HKG)

Flight distance: 5,995 miles

• Boeing 777-200ER
• Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
• Airbus A350-1000s

British Airways connects London Heathrow to Hong Kong (HKG) with a flight distance of 5,995 miles. The airline operates a combination of Airbus A350-1000s, Boeing 787-9, and 777-200ERs.

Photo: British Airways

Between February and December 2025, the airline is scheduled to operate 335 round-trip flights, with over two million Available Seat Miles (ASMs). Of the 335 flights, 208 are operated on A350-1000s, 66 on the Boeing 777-200ER, and 59 on the 787-9 Dreamliner. The flight from London takes 12 hours and 50 minutes to complete. Cathay Pacific also operates the route using its Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

4

London Gatwick (LGW) Port Louis, Mauritius (MRU)

Flight distance: 6,044 miles

British Airways connects its secondary London Gatwick Airport (LGW) to Port Louis, Mauritius, with a flight distance of 6,044 miles. The airline operates its Boeing 777-200ER aircraft, operating 142 flights between February and December 2025. The flight from London takes 11 hours and 40 minutes to complete. Air Mauritius also operates the route using its Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

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3

London Heathrow (LHR) Kuala Lumpur (KUL)

Flight distance: 6,593 miles

British Airways connects London Heathrow to Kuala Lumpur, marking one of its longest flights, with a distance of 6,593 miles. The airline operates its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, offering 274 round-trip flights between February and December 2025. The flight from London takes 12 hours and 50 minutes to complete. Malaysian Airlines also operates the route using its Airbus A350-900 aircraft.

Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying

2

London Heathrow (LHR) Singapore (SIN)

Flight distance: 6,764 miles

• Boeing 777-300ER
• Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner
• Airbus A380

The runner-up on our list is the British Airways flight between London Heathrow and Singapore (SIN), clocking in at 13 hours and a distance of 6,764 miles. The airline operates a combination of Airbus A380s, Boeing 787-9, and 777-300ERs.

Photo: Nick Morrish | British Airways

Between February and December 2025, the airline is scheduled to operate 668 round-trip flights, with over 4.4 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs). Of the 668 flights, 277 are operated on Boeing 787-9s, 271 on 777-300ERs, and 120 on the carrier’s Airbus A380 fleet. Singapore Airlines and Qantas also operate the route with a combination of aircraft, including their respective A380s.

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1

London Heathrow (LHR) Santiago, Chile (SCL)

Flight distance: 7,227 miles

Topping our list of British Airways longest routes is from London Heathrow to Santiago in Chile, with a distance of 7,227 miles. The airline operates its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, offering 154 round-trip flights between February and December 2025. The flight from London takes 14 hours and 40 minutes to complete.