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Traveller circumnavigates globe under 47 hours via BNE in world record bid

London-based Umit Sabanci smashed his Guinness World Record bid for the fastest circumnavigation by scheduled airline flights, completing his express global trip in 46 hours 23 minutes by selecting Brisbane Airport (BNE) as a critical connecting hub.

London-based Umit Sabanci smashed his Guinness World Record bid for the fastest circumnavigation by scheduled airline flights, completing his express global trip in 46 hours 23 minutes by selecting Brisbane Airport (BNE) as a critical connecting hub.

The winning itinerary for the fastest trip around the world included three legs: Los Angeles to Doha on Qatar Airways QR740, Doha to Brisbane on Qatar Airways QR898 and Brisbane to Los Angeles on Qantas QF15; with the new time beating the current record of 50 hours, which was set in 1980.

Mr Sabanci touched down at the award-winning Brisbane Airport on Thursday 11 August and said he spent two months analysing hundreds of route and flight options, eventually selecting BNE for its connectivity and reliability, which was crucial for his record attempt.

“I didn’t plan to do Brisbane but you look at the shortest time to go around the world and it appears that Brisbane has really good connection to North America and Asia,” he said.

“I looked at the reliability of the flights and departures and delays from this airport and it ticks all the boxes. It’s my first time in Brisbane, but looking at the flight data, it’s a good hub, reliable.”

To set the new record, flights need to be part of a regular public service route on a registered airline and are timed from when the flight leaves the runway to when it lands at the same airport.

The journey also needs to be in the same direction, continuous and cover a minimum of 36,787km.

Mr Sabanci arrived in LAX on Friday morning, taking photos with the Qantas crew in the cockpit.

He’ll now have to await confirmation of the Guinness World Record by submitting his evidence, including GPS tracking, signed paperwork by pilots on his three flights and souvenirs available only at BNE, including a current copy of The Australian.

BNE record attempt
Three international flights clocking in a 46 hours and 23 minutes.

Turkish-born Sabanci is a managing director of an international consulting firm and has previously set another world record for the most countries visited in 24 hours via public transport, 13 in total. 

His global trip was funded by Bahcesehir University in Turkey with all money raised going to the Guys Cancer Charity in the UK.

For more info, visit bne.com.au