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Gil AzevedoPortuguese banker who made record-breaking round-the-world flight on scheduled airlines
Country:
 UAE |
Content:
- Around the World in a Record-Breaking Leap
- A Lisbon Native's Triumph
- Inspiration and Determination
- Meticulous Planning
- Awaiting Guinness Approval
- Five Back-to-Back Flights
- Facing Exhaustion with Determination
- Using Miles and Maximizing Perks
- Global Traveler and Explorer
- Tips for Fellow Travelers
- A Modern-Day Navigator
- Future Adventures?
Around the World in a Record-Breaking Leap
A Dubai-based Portuguese banker has shattered the world record for the "fastest circumnavigation of the world on scheduled flights." Emulating the Portuguese explorers who conquered the New World in the 1400s, Gil Azevedo set a global landmark with his record-breaking journey.
A Lisbon Native's Triumph
The 40-year-old Lisbon native entered the Guinness Book of World Records after traversing from Shanghai to Auckland, Buenos Aires, Paris, Moscow, and back to Shanghai via the air in a mere 55 hours and 47 minutes. The previous record holder, British monk Michael Bartlett, had accomplished the feat in 57 hours and 27 minutes the year before. The previous record had stood since 1995.
Inspiration and Determination
Azevedo, a banker at Emirates Islamic, credits Jules Verne's novel "Around the World in 80 Days" for inspiring his expedition. He wanted to explore how far modern travelers had come since the book's publication in 1873. "Besides, here in Dubai, all we hear about is breaking records," Azevedo adds. "So I wondered, is that something I could do?"
Meticulous Planning
To establish a new global record, Azevedo explains, one must adhere to specific criteria and regulations. He opted for a "near-antipodal" attempt, aiming to cover a minimum distance of 40,000 km by choosing two "near opposite" points on the globe: Buenos Aires and Shanghai. "I went through many different combinations, making comparisons, and I saw that I could build a route that would beat the previous record," Azevedo reveals. "I had to do a lot of calculations."
Awaiting Guinness Approval
Once the route was meticulously planned, Azevedo faced a 12-week wait for a response from Guinness World Records. "I got the green light one day before my departure," adds Azevedo, who set out on his journey on February 12, 2017.
Five Back-to-Back Flights
Making five consecutive ultra long-haul flights, the Portuguese native departed Shanghai at 2:30 am and arrived back at 10:15 am on February 14. Layover times between flights ranged from 90 to 180 minutes. "It was particularly stressful in Moscow when the flight from Paris had to circle for 90 minutes due to a blizzard over the airport," Azevedo recalls. "By a stroke of luck, my final flight from there to Shanghai was also delayed."
Facing Exhaustion with Determination
The biggest challenge the banker had to overcome was sheer physical fatigue. In addition to the constant travel, Azevedo was required to document every step of his journey, as per the Guinness World Records guidelines. "At every airport and on each flight, I had to find witnesses, and every two hours during the flights, I had to take photos and videos. I never slept for more than two hours. I was constantly getting up and standing with the flight attendants. It was very, very tiring."
Using Miles and Maximizing Perks
Some respite came from the fact that Azevedo used a combination of frequent flyer miles and cash to pay for the flights, with the addition of an upgrade from Buenos Aires to Paris. The record-breaker flew with Air New Zealand, Air France, and Aeroflot. "Air New Zealand was amazing when they found out what I was doing. They gave me a seat with a whole row to myself," Azevedo affirms.
Global Traveler and Explorer
An avid traveler who has visited 61 countries and worked in Europe, New York, Angola, and the UAE, Azevedo shares that his favorite cities remain New York and Cape Town, while his time in Dubai has exposed him to the wonders of Asia. "Living here gives you access to Europe, but most importantly, you're halfway to Asia," Azevedo says. "You can just use the extensive Emirates and Etihad networks to explore so many more places."
Tips for Fellow Travelers
For fellow travelers, Azevedo recommends mixing and matching frequent flyer miles to maximize rewards. He also advises buying and transferring miles from other travelers, friends, and family members. Sometimes the miles earned on one airline can be "stretched further" when used on another. "If I have a night flight and it's long, I always bring a pillow because the ones on the plane are not the best. I make copies of my important documents—passport, driver's license—in case something happens. I also use debit cards in the local currency at my destination instead of exchanging cash at the airport. For local calls, I use Skype," the Portuguese shares.
A Modern-Day Navigator
Like Vasco da Gama, who led the first naval fleet around Africa to India in 1498, or Pedro Alvares Cabral, the first European to visit Brazil, Gil Azevedo can, jokingly or not, count himself among the greats who have set records for the ages.
Future Adventures?
When asked if the Portuguese banker would continue his record-breaking exploits, Azevedo sighs and says, "After 55 hours, I was completely wiped out... But it was beautiful."
