• 

  Qatar Airways

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  QR/QTR

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Doha Hamad International Airport

  Year Founded:

  1993

  Alliance:

  oneworld

  CEO:

  Akbar Al Baker

  Country:

  Qatar

• 

  Qantas

  IATA/ICAO Code:

  QF/QFA

  Airline Type:

  Full Service Carrier

  Hub(s):

  Brisbane Airport, Melbourne Airport, Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport

  Year Founded:

  1920

  Alliance:

  oneworld

  CEO:

  Vanessa Hudson

  Country:

  Australia

A new world record for circumnavigation has been set. Travel enthusiast Umit Sabanci has just broken the record for circumnavigating the globe on scheduled flights. The new set record will stand at 46 hours and 23 minutes. The previously held record was 50 hours. This is not the first travel record Sabanci has broken, and it will not be the last.

Another entry to the history books

For centuries explorers and adventures traveled the world in search of discovery and exploration. Many of these people set remarkable records. A modern adventurer has just set another record in the history of exploration. Umit Sabanci has circumnavigated the globe on scheduled flights faster than anyone in history. His record time is 46 hours and 23 minutes, surpassing the previous record set in 1980 of 50 hours.

Sabanci was greeted at the last stop of his journey in LAX by many passengers and airport staff in celebration of his achievement. He will have to submit all his travel evidence documents to the Guinness World Record Department and wait for the official confirmation of his record. Sabanci, a Turkish native, received funding for this journey from Bahcesehir University (BAU), a prestigious university in Turkey. The expedition also raised money as part of a Guy's Cancer Charity fundraiser in the UK.

Chosen route

Simple Flying got in touch with Sabanci before his departure. He shared that his chosen route would start in Los Angeles, California (LAX). From there, he would take a Qatar Airways flight to Doha, Qatar(DOH). The flight was scheduled to depart LAX at 18:30 PDT on August 9th, 2022. Then arrive at DOH at 20:00 AST on August 10th, 2022.

He would continue flying Qatar to Brisbane, Australia(BNE). The flight was scheduled to depart DOH at 21:15 AST on August 10th and arrive in BNE at 18:15 AEST on August 11th. From BNE, he would take a Qantas flight to LAX. The flight was scheduled to depart at 20:30 AST on August 11th and arrive in LAX at 17:00 PDT on August 11th.

If everything went according to schedule, this route would take 46 hours and 30 minutes. When asked why he had chosen this specific route, Sabanci had this to say,

"The route must comply with Guinness World Records rules and have a journey time less than the existing record or the target completion time. Secondly, it has to be realistic with its connection times. Finally, considering closed airspace, COVID-19 restricted regions, union strikes, cancellations, and delays."

Knowing the likelihood of delays and cancellations in today's air transit industry, Sabanci stuck to his plan and decided to try, even though a single setback could cost him his prize. While not every flight followed the schedule exactly as laid out, Sabanci beat the odds and completed the challenge seven minutes faster than anticipated.

A life of travel

Sabanci has been an avid traveler for decades. His passion for travel and exploration has taken him to all corners of the earth. He previously set a separate travel record for most countries visited in 24 hours by public transport. In 2017, he broke the previous record of twelve countries and set a new record of 13. Following this planetary circumnavigation expedition, Sabanci has set his sights on the east. The next record he anticipates setting will be the "maximum distance traveled by train in 24 hours". He believes China's new high-speed rail system will allow him to do just that.

What do you think of this remarkable feat? Let us know in the comments below.