Recent data from Cirium, an aviation analytics company, reveals the longest domestic flights offered by the three major US legacy carriers: American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. While some domestic routes are relatively short, the presence of Hawaii leads to significant distances, with flights exceeding 4,000 miles.
American Airlines Leads with Chicago to Honolulu Route
American Airlines operates the longest domestic flight, connecting Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Honolulu (HNL). This route stretches a remarkable 4,244 miles (6,830 km) and is served daily using Boeing 787-8 aircraft. Each plane accommodates 20 business class, 28 premium economy, and 186 economy seats. Passengers can expect a block time of nine hours and 14 minutes. Flight AA75 departs Chicago at 10:00 and arrives in Honolulu at 15:14 local time. The return flight, AA74, is scheduled for an overnight journey, taking eight hours from Honolulu at 19:00 to Chicago at 07:00 the next day. American Airlines emphasizes the importance of its O’Hare hub, stating that it connects the Midwest to its global network.
Delta Air Lines Connects New York to Honolulu
Delta Air Lines offers an even longer domestic route of 4,983 miles (8,019 km) from New York JFK Airport to Honolulu. This flight operates nonstop five times a week initially, increasing to daily services by December 18. The majority of these flights use 216-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, with a notable exception of an Airbus A330-300 used on November 1. Passengers can expect a block time of 11 hours and 13 minutes for the westbound flight, DL636, which departs at 09:55 and lands at 16:08. The return flight, DL650, takes nine hours and 55 minutes, leaving Honolulu at 17:15 and arriving in New York at 08:10 the following morning.
United Airlines Competes on New York-Honolulu Route
United Airlines also connects Newark to Honolulu, covering a distance of 4,962 miles. This route is serviced by Boeing 767-400ER aircraft, which feature 231 seats, including 34 in Polaris business class. The westbound flight, UA363, has a block time identical to Delta’s, at 11 hours and 13 minutes, departing Newark at 08:00 and landing in Honolulu at 14:13. The return flight takes nine hours and 35 minutes, leaving Honolulu at 15:45 and arriving back in Newark at 06:20 the next day. United Airlines currently operates this route five times a week, with plans to transition to daily service after December 18.
As domestic air travel continues to evolve, the lengths of these routes underscore the unique geographical challenges and opportunities presented by the inclusion of Hawaii in the US airline network. The competition among these legacy carriers showcases their commitment to connecting distant regions while catering to the needs of travelers.
