Cathay Pacific plans world's longest passenger flight

Cathay Pacific is planning the world's longest passenger flight by rerouting its New York to Hong Kong service over the Atlantic instead of the Pacific, the airline said Tuesday, in a new path that steers clear of Russia.

The flight path will cover "just under 9,000 nautical miles" (10,357 miles) - or 16,668 kilometres - in 16 to 17 hours, Cathay said in a statement to AFP.

It will surpass a Singapore Airlines flight travelling from the Southeast Asian city-state to New York, which flies a shorter distance in a longer time - about 15,343 kilometres (9,534 miles) in 18 hours.

Cathay declined to be drawn on the reasons for its flight path giving a wide berth to Russia's airspace, which it has previously flown through, according to Bloomberg.

Many airlines have cancelled routes to Russian cities or are avoiding its airspace over Moscow's bloody invasion of neighbouring Ukraine last month.

Cathay is currently seeking an overflight permit for the journey which will fly across the Atlantic, Europe and Central Asia.

As of Tuesday evening, Cathay lists a New York-to-Hong Kong flight for April 3 -- a non-stop journey that will stay in the air for 17 hours and 50 minutes, according to its website.