National Airlines has completed a nonstop Boeing 777 freighter service from Glasgow Prestwick to Melbourne that it describes as the world’s longest commercial 777F cargo flight. The mission covered nearly 9,850 miles and was flown in response to an urgent aircraft-on-ground repair requirement for Jetstar, with Golden Aviation acting as broker.
The freighter departed Prestwick on 4 August and landed in Melbourne on 5 August after about 19 hours and 23 minutes in the air. The operation was arranged at short notice and was completed within 30 hours of the customer’s initial enquiry, underscoring the role of long-range cargo aircraft in time-critical maintenance support.
The flight adds a notable benchmark for the Boeing 777F, which is increasingly used on ultra-long-haul sectors where speed and range are critical. National operated the mission with its new Boeing 777 freighter, extending the aircraft’s commercial profile on one of the longest nonstop cargo routes reported to date. The exact cargo was not disclosed in full, but the shipment was tied to a replacement-part move needed to minimise aircraft downtime.