travel

Air India to launch world’s longest flight

If successful, a new Air India flight will travel 14,000km around the world and unseat the current record holder, Australian airline Qantas. – AFP/Relaxnews pic, September 26, 2015.If successful, a new Air India flight will travel 14,000km around the world and unseat the current record holder, Australian airline Qantas. – AFP/Relaxnews pic, September 26, 2015.Air India is poised to snag the record for operating the world’s longest, non-stop commercial flight, with plans to launch a new 18-hour route from Bangalore to San Francisco.

If successful, the flight will travel 14,000km around the world and unseat the current record holder, Australian airline Qantas, which travels 13,370km between Dallas Fort Worth in the US and Sydney.

Last month, Emirates also also announced plans to link Dubai and Panama City next year, a journey of 13,760km.

The Air India route would become the first direct flight between San Francisco and India, and service the large Indian population living in Silicon Valley, pointed out The Times of India.

If not Bangalore, the flight path could also depart from New Delhi.

At the other end of the spectrum, the world’s shortest commercial flight operates from Westray to Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands in Scotland, aboard Loganair.

Separated by just 2.7km, the flight is officially two minutes, but under ideal weather conditions can take as little as 47 seconds.

Meanwhile, a little prep and planning can go a long way to helping flyers survive a long haul flight.

For example, if you want to be served first, request a special meal, as these are distributed before the rest of the meals.

Carbs and green tea have also been shown to reduce the effects of jet lag.

And for a more comfortable journey, consider investing in compression socks, noise-cancelling devices or meditation apps to reduce the stress caused by the ambient hum of the plane’s engine. – AFP/Relaxnews, September 26, 2015.

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