18 October, 2025
us-airlines-set-to-operate-longest-boeing-737-max-flights-in-november

The US is poised for an impressive number of international long-haul flights this November, with a total of **576 daily scheduled departures**. Among these, narrowbody aircraft, including the **Boeing 737 MAX**, will play a notable role, operating seven of these services. This information is derived from an analysis of flight schedules, utilizing OAG data.

One in every **83 daily international long-haul services** will feature the MAX, with both the MAX 8 and MAX 9 models being utilized. Airlines such as **Copa Airlines**, **Gol**, and **Icelandair** are particularly significant contributors to this effort. **United Airlines** will also play a role, especially during the summer months, primarily from the East Coast.

Top 10 Longest MAX Flights in November

Leading the list is **Icelandair**, which will operate flights from **Keflavik to Orlando** with a maximum block time of **8 hours 20 minutes**. This route covers a distance of **3,071 nautical miles** (approximately **5,687 kilometers**) each way. Notably, Icelandair’s new service to Miami, scheduled for up to **8 hours 40 minutes**, will not utilize the MAX due to the deployment of the A321LR aircraft instead.

The remaining entries in the top ten longest MAX flights range from **7 hours 24 minutes** to **8 hours 20 minutes**. Several potential candidates fell just short of inclusion, with some routes only minutes away. For instance, WestJet’s flight from **Calgary to Kahului** clocks in at **7 hours 23 minutes**, while Icelandair’s service to **Nashville** begins at **7 hours 20 minutes**.

A detailed breakdown of the longest flights includes:

– **8h 20m**: Keflavik to Orlando – Icelandair (operating six to seven times weekly on the MAX 8)
– **8h 15m**: Brasília to Orlando – Gol (daily MAX 8)
– **8h 10m**: Keflavik to Denver – Icelandair (daily MAX 8)
– **8h 05m**: Fortaleza to Orlando – Gol (weekly MAX 8)
– **8h 00m**: Keflavik to Seattle – Icelandair (operating on select dates)
– **7h 54m**: Panama City to San Francisco – United (daily MAX 8) and Copa (daily MAX 9)
– **7h 51m**: Liberia back to Seattle – Alaska Airlines (weekly MAX 8)
– **7h 30m**: Edmonton to Honolulu – WestJet (weekly MAX 8)
– **7h 30m**: Calgary to Honolulu – WestJet (three times weekly MAX 8)
– **7h 24m**: Calgary to Kona – WestJet (three times weekly MAX 8)

Significance of Copa Airlines’ San Francisco Route

Copa Airlines continues to serve the long-haul route from its **’Hub of the Americas’** in Panama City to **San Francisco**, marking a decade of service. This route, now operating daily, is notable for its duration. In 2018 and early 2019, Copa operated three daily flights on this route.

According to OAG data, Copa’s San Francisco service is its longest in terms of time, surpassing its second-longest route to **Montevideo** by **20 minutes**. The daily flight **CM382** departs Central America at **18:27** and arrives in San Francisco at **23:17** local time, taking **7 hours 50 minutes**. The return flight, **CM383**, leaves at **00:36** and lands back in Panama City at **10:46** local time, aligning with connectivity needs.

In the year leading up to **July 2025**, the **US Department of Transportation** reported that Copa Airlines transported **153,000 round-trip passengers** on this route, achieving a **90% seat load factor**. Approximately **70%** of these passengers connected to other flights in Panama City, with Lima being the most popular onward destination.

Alaska Airlines also makes an appearance in this analysis with its new service. The airline launched flights from **Seattle to Liberia** on **December 20, 2024**, just in time for the holiday season. This route, aimed at leisure travelers heading to Costa Rica, marks the first time this market has been served.

Although the initial block time for this route is **7 hours 51 minutes**, there is an anticipated change in duration to **9 hours 3 minutes** for a portion of the year, as indicated on Alaska Airlines’ website and other booking platforms.

As November approaches, the role of the Boeing 737 MAX in long-haul international travel highlights the aircraft’s growing significance in the aviation market, with airlines strategically leveraging its capabilities to connect passengers across long distances.