Top 10 Longest Nonstop Flights from LAX: Up to 17 Hours 50 Minutes

Los Angeles International Airport: A Hub for Long-Haul Flights

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) stands as a major player in the realm of long-haul passenger travel, boasting more such flights than any other U.S. airport except New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). The Southern Californian facility also ranks as the world’s tenth-busiest gateway for long-haul activity. This assessment is based on data from Cirium Diio, which analyzed all flights during the second half of 2025.

In terms of daily operations, LAX handles up to 197 long-haul movements, combining takeoffs and landings. These flights are operated by nearly 50 different carriers. Among them, United Airlines leads in the number of services. However, due to the large number of airlines and the presence of United’s San Francisco hub, the airline accounts for fewer than one in ten movements at LAX.

The 10 Longest Flights from Los Angeles

From July to December, the longest flights departing from Los Angeles are ranked by maximum block time, which includes taxi times at both departure and arrival airports, flight duration, and a buffer for short delays. The cutoff point for inclusion is set at 15 hours and 30 minutes. Some flights were just under this threshold but were excluded because they fell short of the required duration.

Singapore Airlines’ route from Los Angeles to Chiang Mai consistently tops the list. In July, the block time reaches up to 17 hours and 35 minutes, making it the fourth-longest service in the U.S. During the northern winter season, the block time increases to 17 hours and 50 minutes, partly due to stronger headwinds.

Saudia’s Jeddah-Los Angeles Route

Saudia, the Saudi Arabian flag carrier, has been operating the Jeddah-Los Angeles route since April 2014. Over the period from 2014 to March 2025, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported that 527,000 round-trip passengers were transported. However, only 64% of available seats were filled, indicating a significant underutilization of capacity. This lack of demand does not seem to be driven by commercial constraints.

Between January 2024 and March 2025, Saudia carried 51,000 passengers, filling 70% of seats. However, there were three months where occupancy dropped below 55%, prompting the airline to suspend the route temporarily. Booking data suggests that many passengers traveled only between Jeddah and Los Angeles, which may explain the low load factors. The five most popular connecting markets included Cairo, Riyadh, Mumbai, Dhaka, and Karachi.

The Boeing 777-300ER has been the sole aircraft used for this long-haul route. Initially, the frequency was three weekly flights, and it remained consistent for 11 years. During parts of 2018 and 2019, the frequency increased to five weekly flights.

United Airlines' Longest Nonstop Service

United Airlines previously operated nonstop flights from Los Angeles to Singapore using the Boeing 787-9. Between October 2017 and October 2018, the airline scheduled some flights with a block time of up to 17 hours and 55 minutes, slightly longer than the 17 hours and 50 minutes offered by Singapore Airlines in the second half of 2025.

This route represented the longest nonstop passenger service from Los Angeles over the past decade. United discontinued the service after a year, shifting focus to its Pacific hub in San Francisco, where it believed it could better compete. After the change, frequencies increased from daily to twice daily, helping to strengthen its market position. Today, the route continues with two daily flights.