Air India is poised to snag the record for operating the world’s longest, non-stop commercial flight, with plans to launch a new 18-hour route from Bangalore to San Francisco.

If successful, the flight would travel 14,000 km around the world and unseat the current record holder, Australian airline Qantas, which travels 13,370 km between Dallas Fort Worth in the US and Sydney.

Last month, Emirates also announced plans to link Dubai and Panama City next year, a journey of 13,760 km.

The Air India route would become the first direct flight between San Francisco and India, and service the large Indian population living in Silicon Valley, pointed out The Times of India.

If not Bangalore, the flight path could also depart from New Delhi.

At the other end of the spectrum, the world’s shortest commercial flight operates from Westray to Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands in Scotland, aboard Loganair (watch below).

Separated by just 2.7 km, the flight is officially two minutes, but under ideal weather conditions can take as little as 47 seconds.