United Arab Emirates, the Middle East's biggest airline, is set to claim the record of the "world's longest flight."
The company announced Thursday that it will add nonstop service from Dubai to Panama City, Panama starting from Feb. 1, 2016, reported USA Today. The move not only gives UAB it's first destination in Cental America, but will also give the company the honor of possessing the world's longest passenger airline route.
The title's current holder, Australia's Qantas, has its longest flight clocked in at just under 17 hours when going from Dallas to Sydney. Singapore Airlines allegedly had an even longer flight connecting the Singapore to Newark, but it was discontinued in 2013, according to Fox News.
Emirates record-breaking flight will beat Qantas by about 10 miles and 35 minutes, traversing 8,590 miles and taking 17 hours and 35 minutes from take-off to landing. The airline will operate the flight on a Boeing 777-200LR.
"Panama City will be our first destination gateway in Central America, providing a convenient option for our passengers travelling from or through our global hub in Dubai and onward to destinations throughout Central America, the Caribbean and the northern part of South America," Emirates CEO Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum told The National. "We're also pleased to be the only commercial airline to offer a daily, first class service to travellers on what will be the world's longest non-stop flight."
