Hawaii’s position in the middle of the Pacific makes getting here a journey of considerable distance for most travelers. While many flights to Hawaii are regional, certain routes stretch across continents and oceans, offering unique stories and histories. Here’s a breakdown of some of the longest flights to Hawaii, their origins, and interesting tidbits.
Melbourne to Honolulu: 5,504 miles.
The longest flight to Hawaii originates in Melbourne, Australia. Operated by Jetstar since 2012, this route will transition to Qantas in 2025, offering full-service flights to Hawaii from Australia’s cultural capital.
Tidbit: Jetstar launched this route in December 2012 as a low-cost alternative. BOH editors flew the route soon after it launched. Its continued success prompted Qantas to reintroduce premium, full-service flights on the route beginning in May 2025. The flight duration is approximately ten hours.
Manila to Honolulu: 5,302 miles.
The Manila to Honolulu route is a significant link between the Philippines and Hawaii, reflecting deep-rooted cultural and familial ties. Operated by Philippine Airlines, this approximately ten-hour flight underscores the enduring connection between the two regions.
Tidbit: Philippine Airlines inaugurated this route on January 4, 1980, utilizing Boeing 747-200B aircraft. This marked a milestone in transpacific travel and emphasized the airline’s expansion into long-haul services.
Boston to Honolulu: 5,095 miles.
Boston to Honolulu’s span makes it the longest domestic flight in the U.S. and the longest domestic run to Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines inaugurated this route in 2019, providing New England travelers a direct link to the islands. In November 2024, Delta Air Lines began offering seasonal service on this route, further enhancing connectivity between the East Coast and the islands. See more about this route here: Next Hawaii Widebody Route in Peril: Someone May Exit Soon.
Tidbit: Hawaiian Airlines’ launched this route in 2019. The flight duration is approximately ten hours.
Sydney to Honolulu: 5,066 miles.
The Sydney to Honolulu route connects Australia’s largest city with Hawaii’s capital. Qantas and Hawaiian Airlines operate daily flights on this route, directly linking Australians to Hawaii’s warm beaches.
Tidbit: Qantas launched this route in 1984, marking the beginning of significant Australian tourism to Hawaii. The flight duration is approximately ten hours. Hawaiian began its service to Sydney in 2004.
New York City to Honolulu: 4,983 miles.
This route links the energy of New York City with the seemingly opposite tranquil shores of Hawaii. Delta Air Lines and Hawaiian Airlines operate flights from JFK, and United flies from Newark, which serves as key connections for East Coast travelers between the Big Apple and Big Pineapple.
Tidbit: Hawaiian Airlines inaugurated this route in 2012, catering to the growing demand for nonstop ten-hour flights from New York to Hawaii. We have flown this route since its beginning and continue to do so.
Washington D.C. (IAD) to Honolulu: 4,836 miles.
United Airlines operates this route from the nation’s capital to Hawaii’s capital. The flight provides a convenient option for government officials, tourists, and military personnel.
Tidbit: United Airlines first added this route in 2018, capitalizing on demand from the D.C. area for direct access to Hawaii. Beat of Hawaii flew this route for the first time in 2024.
Atlanta to Honolulu: 4,400 miles.
Delta Air Lines offers nonstop flights between Atlanta and Honolulu (and also to Maui), connecting the Southeast U.S. to Hawaii. This route takes nine hours and is a key option for travelers to and from the region.
Tidbit: Delta began operating this route in 1984 on an L-1011, solidifying its presence in Hawaii travel from the Eastern U.S.
Detroit to Honolulu: 4,400 miles.
Delta Air Lines also connects Detroit, a key Midwest hub, to Hawaii. This nine-hour route offers travelers a direct link without connecting through West Coast cities.
Tidbit: Delta began operating this nonstop flight in 2010, expanding its network of Hawaii routes from major U.S. hubs.
Auckland to Honolulu: 4,389 miles.
Air New Zealand and Hawaiian Airlines offer nonstop flights between Auckland and Honolulu, connecting New Zealand with Hawaii. This route has a flight duration of approximately 8 hours and 45 minutes.
Tidbit: Air New Zealand began operating nonstop flights between Auckland and Honolulu in 1961, marking the start of regular air travel between New Zealand and Hawaii. Hawaiian Airlines followed with its service in 2004.
Seoul to Honolulu: 4,300 miles.
Korean Air, Hawaiian Airlines, and Asiana Airlines offer nonstop flights between Seoul (ICN) and Honolulu (HNL), providing a crucial link between East Asia and Hawaii. This route has a flight duration of about 8 hours and 30 minutes.
Tidbit: Korean Air began nonstop flights between Seoul and Honolulu in 1993, and Asiana Airlines followed with its own service shortly thereafter. Hawaiian Airlines also operates this route, catering to the growing demand for travel between South Korea and Hawaii.
Chicago to Honolulu: 4,250 miles.
Chicago to Honolulu remains a vital route for Midwest travelers. Operated by both United Airlines and American Airlines, this route serves one of the largest metropolitan areas in the U.S.
Tidbit: United Airlines first launched this nine-hour route in 1988, taking advantage of Chicago’s status as a major hub for domestic and international travel.
Minneapolis/St. Paul to Honolulu: 3,960 miles.
Delta Air Lines flight from Minneapolis to Honolulu takes about eight and a half hours. It is a gateway for Upper Midwest residents looking to escape cold winters for Hawaii’s warm sun.
Tidbit: This route has been part of Delta’s network since 2004, solidifying its presence connecting northern U.S. cities to Hawaii.
Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston to Honolulu: 3,904 miles.
American Airlines operates the Dallas nonstop eight-hour route, a key connection for travelers from Texas and the surrounding region. United flies nonstop from the Space City of Houston to Honolulu.
Tidbit: The Dallas route first launched in 1987, coinciding with American Airlines’ push to expand its long-haul network from DFW. Since Hawaiian announced plans to withdraw from Austin in 2025, this and Houston are the two Texas cities with nonstop Hawaii routes.
We welcome your comments and experience flying long-haul to and from Hawaii. How many of these routes have you flown? Our score is 7.
Get Breaking Hawaii Travel News
We have flown 2 trips from ORD to HNL, but neither were direct. On both trips we flew Alaska Air from ORD to SFO, then SFO to HNL. That’s 4244 miles, & 10 hrs 17 min. Returning the first time was Alaska Air, HNL to SEA then SEA to ORD, 4398 miles & 9 hrs 40 min. Returning the second time was American, HNL to LAX, then LAX to ORD, 4301 miles & 9 hrs 10 min. None of these times included the layovers, which were about 2 hours each.
We intentionally booked flights with connections/layovers so we could take a break for a couple hours, walk around, eat lunch, use roomier restrooms, etc. Undoubtedly many of you would agree.
Very familiar with both the ATL and DFW routes… Very occasionally IAH, I dislike United… I recall flying long haul from HNL to JFK (visiting Dad’s parent in Ct) in 707’s, 747’s and DC8’s. As an infant, flew a Constellation from HNL to Tokyo w stop at Wake Island.
Best Regards
Great article BOH! I’m old enough to remember the Braniff International “carrot” flight from DFW to HNL, starting January 15th, 1971, if memory serves me correctly. It was a 747-200 that was painted “carrot orange” which I’m told by old pilots of yesteryear, that back in the day HNL tower would say the “carrot” has landed. Also I personally remember flying from SFO-HNL–HKG-SIN in October of 1985 on a Singapore Airlines 747-400 that Singapore called the MEGATOP. That was quite a flight back in the day. Going eastbound you arrived back in SFO just a few hour later the same day on the clock due to the international date line.
Mahalo Nui for the memories.
Hi Daryl.
We started the article thinking more current flights, and then it got to be a mix of current and earlier flights. Thanks for helping.
Aloha.
I may be wrong but i believe it was referred to as the “Great Pumpkin” 😀
Hi John,
You maybe correct. I heard the “carrot” story from an old friend who was a Braniff 727 pilot until they went bankrupt years ago. He always had lots of great stories about Braniff from back in the day.
Aloha!
What a fascinating history lesson Braniff was! They where at one point among the most profitable airlines in the industry and than when deregulation allowed unbridled expansion they started flying everywhere they could regardless of demand. They tried to grow faster than anyone and as a result became the first major airline casualty in the industry. Now with Hawaiian merging into Alaska HA has became the last airline to have either merged with someone or disappeared since the airlines were deregulated in 1978. Hawaiian was the last airline standing so to speak…..
I flew on that Singapore flight from HNL to HKG on December 31, 1989, and entered 1990 crossing the dateline, which was announced in the cabin when we did. I think it was the last time Hawaii had a nonstop to Hong Kong which ended I believe in 1991. The plane that I flew on that run was a 747-300, called the Big Top. The Megatop line was the -400’s, of which I flew on their Taipei-Honolulu flight around Christmas, 1991.
That flight ended soon after.
My score is 8.
But also let me add one more route that was a long distance but short-lived – the Charlotte NC-HNL run first done by US Airways and then a short stint by American. It was just about as long as the flight from Atlanta to HNL. When US Airways flew it, it flew a 767-200 with probably the most comfortable economy class seats I have sat in for a long flight like that.
Hi Stan.
Thanks. You’re very right and we missed it. Short-lived.
Aloha.
Here is a little more history on some of the routes:
JFK-HNL – United used to fly this route nonstop in the early 70s with a DC-8-62H model that was designed for that long of distance. My pop used to tell me stories about the parties that would be in the F/C sections of those planes for those flights.
DFW-HNL – Braniff got the rights to this route in 1969 and bought its first 747-100 (big orange) specifically to fly this route and started with that plane in 1971. American is looked at taking it over after Braniff shut down in 1982.
MSP-HNL: Stalwart route of Northwest Airlines for years before Delta took over. The route that saw the last commercial DC-10 flight in 2007.
Australia-Hawaii: Qantas flew this route as a direct for decades before, being the first airline to fly a jet plane to Hawaii (707) in 1959 on its run from the west coast to Australia through Fiji and other intermediate stops.
That UAL JFK/HNL Flight was Charles Lindbergh’s second to the last flight. As he knew he was dying he wanted to pass on in Hana, so a bed was arranged for him in in the rear of the aircraft to fly him there…..his last flight was a Royal Hawaiian Cessna 402 from HNL to Hana ( pilot of that one was an old friend)
Hi John.
Thanks! Coincidentally, we were just taking about visiting his grave again earlier today.
Aloha.
Good day BOH~ Are you sure about Delta starting in 2012. I have recollections of them operating the B747 ‘Honolulu Bomber’ as it was called in airline circles) prior to 2012. Will dig into that to see what I can find. Cheers
Hi Mark.
On further checking it was 1984 on an L-1011. Thanks for that!
Aloha.