It might sound like a question with a simple answer, but flying around the world can take different amounts of time depending on several factors. If you’re aiming for the fastest possible circumnavigation by air, you might be surprised at just how quickly it can be done.
The current record for flying around the world, specifically crossing the equator, is held by a Concorde flight, clocking in at approximately 33 hours. This remarkable speed demonstrates that it’s entirely possible to fly around the world in well under two days. Interestingly, this record-breaking flight even managed to stay in daylight for the entire journey, thanks to careful timing around the equinox and eastward travel direction. While the Concorde was airborne for around 25 hours, refueling stops contributed to the total time. One way to potentially reduce the overall time even further would be to switch planes instead of refueling, utilizing a fleet of Concordes strategically positioned around the globe.
Before the Concorde’s record, a Gulfstream business jet held the previous record at just over 36 hours. This highlights that even without supersonic speeds, a fast private jet can circumnavigate the globe in a very impressive time. Business jets like Gulfstreams are designed for speed and minimizing stops, catering to those who value rapid travel.
While these are record times achieved under specific conditions, they give us a good indication of the minimum time possible. The number of refueling stops is a significant factor, more so than the time spent at each individual stop. Theoretically, with careful planning and multiple aircraft, the absolute minimum time to fly around the world could be even lower.
