Emirates Airline’s first nonstop service between Auckland and Dubai will be one of the longest air routes in the world by distance, but with the assistance of “clever technology and good planning, passengers will get to their destination in the shortest possible time.”

Emirates will be using flexible routes, which can vary by day, taking advantage of tail winds and avoiding head winds to reduce the time in the air.

The airline starts its first nonstop service from Dubai to Auckland on March 1, bringing many of Emirates’ 39 European destinations, as well as 38 cities in Africa and the Gulf within just a one-stop connection in Dubai.

The new nonstop service will be operated by a Boeing 777-200LR and should typically take just under 16 hours from Dubai to New Zealand and 17 hours, 15 minutes in the other direction.

“Emirates continues to invest in innovative technologies, and we utilize best practices in optimizing our flight planning systems, finding the best routes that take into consideration weather and

current conditions to ensure we save time, fuel and emissions, while never compromising on the safety and comfort of our passengers and crew,” said Geoff Hounsell, Emirates’ VP flight operations support services and air traffic management.

“Preparing for a new 14,000 km (7,600 nautical miles) flight takes an enormous amount of planning,” he added.

“The organized track system — AUSOTS — is well-proven and extending that program to the Auckland-Dubai route will have significant benefits,” said Geoff Hounsell.

“A number of our air traffic control and environmental specialists have worked with Emirates’ flight planning team to help find them the most optimal east- and west-bound routes,” said Executive GM, Air Traffic Control Greg Hood.

Airways New Zealand Chief Operating Officer Pauline Lamb says air traffic controllers are looking forward to welcoming the Emirates Boeing 777-200LR into the region.