A Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft set an endurance record for a non-stop commercial flight today by
travelling more than 22 hours eastwards from Hong Kong to London.
The aircraft, with 35 passengers and crew aboard, flew more than half way around the world, covering 11,664 nautical miles, or 21,601 kilometres, Boeing said.
The 777-200LR Worldliner plane touched down at London's Heathrow airport in Boeing's blue and white livery, with the word "experimental" over the forward door.
The plane flew from Hong Kong to London, going the long way round over North America in a flight which lasted 22 hours and 42 minutes.
Captain Suzanna Darcy-Hennemann, one of the pilots, said the plane had two hours of fuel left when it landed.
The first Boeing 777-200LR will be delivered to Pakistan International Airlines in early 2006. The plane can carry about 300 passengers.